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Lansdale reads statement separating local policing from federal immigration enforcement
Summary
Mayor Rachel Bollins and the police chief read a borough statement saying Lansdale police will not perform federal immigration enforcement or participate in ICEs 287(g) program and will only cooperate with federal authorities as legally required; community speakers urged a written, loophole-free policy.
Mayor Rachel Bollins presented a formal statement at the April 15 Borough Council meeting declaring that Lansdale Borough Police will not engage in federal immigration enforcement and will not participate in ICEs 287(g) program.
"If you're an immigrant, know that you are welcome here and that you matter here," Bollins read in the statement, which emphasized separating local policing from civil immigration enforcement to preserve community trust and encourage residents to report crimes without fear.
The statement, prepared after meetings with police leadership, the borough solicitor and community members, says the police department will not routinely inquire about immigration status, will not collect or share immigration-status data except as required by state or federal law, and will review any federal request for assistance only through the chief of police and the mayor "and act only in accordance with legal requirements." The statement also noted the borough will release the text to news outlets.
Community organizers and residents who spoke during public comment welcomed the message but pushed for a written policy. "We must ensure this policy is airtight," said Jay Lee, a community organizer with the Woody Center and Welcoming Lansdale, citing an example from another municipality where wording in a statement left loopholes that advocates later sought to correct. Lee urged the council to publish final written language and called for it to serve as a countywide model.
Mayor Bollins and borough staff said the statement is the product of community engagement and consultation with the chief of police and the solicitor. The council did not take a formal vote on local policy at the meeting; the mayor indicated the statement will be circulated more broadly and that staff and counsel remain involved in producing the final documentation.
What happens next: the borough will release the statement publicly and continue drafting the final written policy for local use; several speakers requested that the written policy explicitly avoid loopholes that could undermine protections for immigrant residents.
