OpenCampaign

Immigration

Community Voice

County ICE cooperation and immigration enforcement

County Executive Josh Siegel advanced non-cooperation measures including legislation barring county employees from 287(g) programs or ICE participation, bans on ICE staging operations on county property, and potential tracking of ICE activity. These steps are framed as protecting communities and civil rights. Contrasting views in local campaigns and board discussions support deporting violent offenders while criticizing broader ICE tactics, making the issue a flashpoint intersecting public safety, human services, and national politics.

Should Lehigh County limit or expand cooperation with federal ICE immigration enforcement?

Tap a point along the line below to show where you stand.

How important is this to you?

Sources

The Morning Call / Josh Siegel — https://www.mcall.com/2026/02/26/josh-siegel-first-state-of-lehigh-county-address-2026/
Siegel advanced non-cooperation measures: legislation barring county employees from 287(g) programs or ICE participation, bans on ICE staging operations on county property
Lehigh Daily — https://lehighdaily.com/josh-siegel-proposes-sales-tax-study-homelessness-emergency-ice-limits-in-state-of-the-county-address/
Josh Siegel proposes sales tax study, homelessness emergency, ICE limits in State of the County address
The Morning Call — https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/11/election-2025-lehigh-executive/
This became a flashpoint in 2025 campaigns and 2026 Board actions, intersecting with national politics and local public safety
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Fully bar 287(g), ICE staging on county property, and any employee cooperation; track and limit ICE activity
  2. Prohibit most ICE partnerships and staging while still sharing info on serious violent offenders
  3. Maintain case-by-case cooperation on criminal cases without formal 287(g) or broad bans
  4. Restore or expand information-sharing and allow ICE access for deportations of removable non-citizens
  5. Actively join 287(g), welcome ICE operations on county property, and prioritize local immigration enforcement