The board voted to table the policy rather than vote on it, hoping to strengthen its language
SCRANTON, Pa. — The Lackawanna County commissioners on Wednesday opted to table a vote on a new policy that gives guidance on how county employees can interact with immigration agents and other federal, state and local enforcement authorities.
Commissioner Bill Gaughan, who criticized the policy as a weakened version of the “Protect Our Neighbors” ordinance he first introduced nearly two months ago, made a motion to table the policy so they can strengthen its language.
Commissioner Thom Welby, the board’s chair, suggested he is open to changes, though he expressed reluctance to table the policy and noted that the board has the authority to amend the language once it’s passed. Despite that, Welby seconded Gaughan’s motion to the applause of residents who, almost unanimously, supported Gaughan’s more stringent restrictions on ICE interactions.
“This moment feels especially disheartening because you had an opportunity to say to the immigrant community, ‘we see you, we care about you and we will use the limited authority we have to safeguard your constitutional rights,”’ said Sarah Balmer, of Moscow. “And for reasons that remain unclear, you chose not to do that.”
With the motion made, the two Democratic commissioners voted to take the policy back to the drawing board.
The policy reviewed Wednesday sets up a general protocol for county officials to follow when enforcement officials appear at county facilities.
While Welby defended the policy for establishing that officials cannot give immigration authorities information without first checking with county lawyers, the language faced criticism for removing elements barring voluntary cooperation and participation in ICE enforcement agreements.
The policy also removed language introduced in the ordinance that limits the immigration information collected by county officials, thus limiting what must be shared with ICE under legal requirements.