Montgomery County leaders, immigrant‑affairs director respond to ICE activity as advocates press for a "welcome" policy

Montgomery County commissioners and the county's new director of immigrant affairs discussed recent immigration‑enforcement activity in Norristown and outlined outreach steps Wednesday, while advocacy groups urged the board to adopt a formal local "welcome" policy limiting county cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The county's director of immigrant affairs, Neli Jimenez, told the board the office’s mission is to connect immigrants, refugees and new residents to county services and to increase language access and civic engagement. Jimenez cited a county estimate that roughly 100,000 foreign‑born residents live in Montgomery County—about 11% of the population—and described a set of initial actions including a county Indian Resource Center webpage, translated materials for notary and protection‑from‑abuse forms, and coordinated outreach with the commerce department to help immigrant‑owned businesses access loans and grants.

Why it matters: Public commenters and some commissioners said recent enforcement actions have created fear in immigrant communities and disrupted daily life, including attendance at school and work. Advocates and residents told the board they want a written local policy that would prohibit county employees and the county’s detention facility from assisting federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant and would strengthen staff training, language access and community notification procedures.

County staff described next steps rather than a formal vote. Jimenez said her office will continue outreach and expand resources, and commissioners said they intend to work with community organizations to develop county policy options tailored to Montgomery County. No county ordinance or resolution was adopted at the June 5 meeting.

Details from the meeting: Jimenez said the office’s work focuses on five priorities: building infrastructure, improving language access, promoting civic engagement, helping residents navigate government systems and supporting economic empowerment. Examples she listed include a business roundtable for immigrant‑owned businesses planned for June 23 and a one‑stop website for legal, social and educational resources.

Public comment was extensive. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, the UDICenter in Lansdale and local faith leaders urged the board to adopt a welcoming policy that would: (1) limit county staff from collecting or sharing immigration status information; (2) prohibit contracts or informal agreements with federal agencies that facilitate enforcement absent warrants; and (3) establish training and accountability for county employees. Speakers noted court decisions and previous legal challenges in other states but said legal precedent supports jurisdictions that set local limits on enforcement cooperation.

The board and staff said they would continue meeting with advocates and community groups to develop a locally tailored approach. County officials emphasized they are constrained by federal law but said the county can adopt measures within its legal authority to protect residents’ access to services and due process.

Ending: Commissioners asked residents to share incident details and documentation with the Office of Immigrant Affairs so staff can triage legal and social‑service needs. Advocates asked the county to return to the board with draft policy language and training plans in coming weeks.