DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) — Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler has ended a formal partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a program established under former Sheriff Fred Harran.
The move fulfills a campaign promise and immediately halts the deputizing of county deputies to assist in federal immigration operations.
The decision does not prevent ICE from operating in Bucks County, but it removes the sheriff’s office from direct participation.
Ceisler said the agreement previously granted deputies “extraordinary powers.”
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“It allows them to stop anybody, detain anybody, who they believe is in the country without current authorization,” Ceisler said.
Ceisler emphasized that ending the partnership does not mean his office will obstruct federal enforcement.
“We are continuing to maintain an open dialogue with ICE and all our federal state and local law enforcement partners,” he said. “By any definition of a sanctuary county, we are not one.”
The White House issued a statement in response to Ceisler’s announcement. The message read, in part, “These types of actions won’t stop ICE and the federal government from enforcing the law, they will only make it significantly more challenging to get dangerous criminal illegals off American streets, and put innocent Americans in harm’s way.”
Ceisler’s stance differs markedly from that of Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, whose recent remarks threatening to arrest ICE agents operating in the city drew widespread attention. She reinforced her comments again on Wednesday.
“When you don’t believe the facts and you can’t come back with facts, you come back with insults,” Bilal said. “My mother said, ‘Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names will never hurt you.’ Bring it.”
Ceisler called Bilal’s approach misguided.
“I understand that many people are angry and frustrated,” he said. “We all have our role and responsibility in this process, and as a law-enforcement executive, what she did is not it.”
In Atlantic City, Mayor Marty Small also addressed ICE activity during a separate news conference, saying, in part, “We will continue to stand firmly with our immigrant community and we call on the federal government to ensure that any ICD activity in Atlantic City is conducted lawfully and with full respect.”
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