Image courtesy of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
As tensions continue to rise over Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, the Lower Merion Police Department on Feb. 4 issued a statement responding to news reports that ICE stopped a car and took the driver and passenger into custody on Overbrook Parkway in Penn Wynne.
“We understand that events like these can leave our residents feeling on edge, and we want to provide clarity about our role and our commitment to you,” the police department stated. The department noted that it does not participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows local police to be deputized to perform tasks like checking immigration status or processing deportations.
The Lower Merion Police Department also advised residents to call 911 if they observe police activity and no LMPD unit is present, stating that it will respond to the scene to verify that “legitimate law enforcement activity is occurring.”
However, the department noted that it will not interfere with federal law enforcement acting within their legal authority. In fact, federal law enforcement agencies are not required to notify local police of their operations — and “ICE did not inform us of the enforcement action on January 30th,” the department said.
Finally, in a nod to the potential for protest activities, the LMPD said “our officers are here to ensure that every resident may safely exercise their First Amendment rights while we strive to maintain peace throughout our community.”
In Narberth, another Main Line suburb, Borough Council President Fred Bush at a Jan. 15 meeting distributed whistles to his fellow council members — noting that it would be “wise to prepare” for potential ICE operations in the community.
Meanwhile, reports of ICE sightings are continuing in other Philadelphia suburbs. Video shared with local news outlets appears to show agents from an ICE division making arrests in downtown Phoenixville on Feb. 3, with witnesses reporting that windows were smashed and that they saw “people being dragged from their cars.”
