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Governance committee delays consolidation of two proposed 287(g) ordinances
Summary
Northampton County's governance committee agreed to postpone consolidation of two ordinances that would bar county participation in 287(g) contracts and—on one draft—codify a prior executive's order, directing staff to combine the drafts for review when sponsors can attend.
The Northampton County governance committee on April 7 postponed action on two separate ordinances that would restrict county cooperation with federal immigration-enforcement contracts and related directives.
Committee members said both drafts—each proposed by a different council member—include a prohibition on 287(g) contracts. One draft would also codify an executive order issued by the prior county executive, which some members noted remains in effect.
With neither sponsoring member present, committee members agreed it would be fairer to consolidate the two drafts and review a single proposed ordinance when both sponsors could attend. "Since neither of the two individuals who initiated these ordinances [were] here, in all fairness, I think it probably be better if maybe we postpone this to perhaps another time," one committee member said, and members moved and seconded tabling the discussion.
Staff agreed to work with the named sponsors (referred to in the drafts as Lori and Nadeem) to craft a consolidated ordinance that preserves operative language from both documents. "I can get in touch with Nadeem and Lori to see what we can do with that," a staff member said, offering to produce a combined draft for the committee to review next month.
The committee did not take a formal floor vote on either ordinance at the meeting. Members said the consolidated draft will be returned to the governance committee for editing and to remove any lines that would not garner sufficient support before being scheduled for a future council agenda.
Next steps: staff will prepare a consolidated draft and the committee will schedule another governance meeting so sponsors can attend for committee consideration.
