BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The City of Bethlehem has entered into an agreement allowing designated city police officers to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
The Bethlehem Police Department says this will provide them with access to more federal crime-fighting resources. It will not, however, involve any immigration enforcement.
In a 4-3 vote Tuesday night, Bethlehem City Council approved an agreement allowing designated city police officers to work with Homeland Security Investigations.
“There will absolutely be no immigration enforcement by this task force officer. We have spoken with HSI regarding that. They understand, nor do they want us involved in any immigration enforcement,” said Capt. William Audelo, BPD.
Bethlehem’s police chief emphasized that the agreement is not for immigration enforcement, but rather, complex criminal investigations.
Instead, the partnership will assist Bethlehem police with more complex criminal investigations that often cross state lines — things like child exploitation and drug smuggling.
“What it really does is it gives us an incredible amount of resources that we can tap into when we need a lot more eyes on and a lot more time dedicated to a complex case,” Audelo said.
The agreement will also help combat human trafficking — something Bethlehem police say is happening right now in the city.
“If we do not find resources from an agency like HSI and we do not become proactive in taking on these large complex investigations, then we’re doing a disservice to the people who are being victimized,” Audelo said.
One of the department’s detectives will be assigned to the HSI task force role, and that overtime will be paid for by the federal government.