ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County officials have issued an eviction notice to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, escalating a dispute over unpaid rent for county-owned office space.
County Controller Mark Pinsley announced Tuesday that DHS has occupied office space in the Hamilton Financial Center on West Hamilton Street for nearly three years without paying rent, leaving the county with more than $115,000 in uncollected revenue. According to Pinsley, the county became aware of the situation after receiving a tip that federal immigration agents were operating out of the building.
Pinsley said the county entered into an agreement in November 2022 with Homeland Security Investigations, a division within Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to lease the space. However, DHS later contended that the HSI official who signed the agreement lacked authority to do so, meaning the contract was never fully executed. Despite that, the agency continued to use the office for around 38 months.
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The main entrance of the Hamilton Financial Center in Allentown, Pa., on Jan. 21, 2026. Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations have occupied office space in the county-owned building for nearly three years without a fully executed lease agreement, according to county officials. (Photo: Jai Smith/Lehigh Daily)
Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel said the county formally issued a 30-day eviction notice Tuesday and has notified the court of its intent to pursue payment for the outstanding rent.
“I believe their presence threatens public safety and public trust,” Siegel said, adding that the county would seek to remove DHS from the building while attempting to recover the money owed.
In a statement, Siegel cited both the unpaid rent and ICE’s national reputation, arguing that the combination justified the county’s action. Pinsley echoed those concerns, saying that allowing ICE-related agencies to operate in a county building reflects poorly on local government and could undermine community stability.
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The move immediately drew pushback from other officials, including Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, who said ICE’s enforcement arm does not operate out of the Hamilton Financial Center. Holihan said the federal agents working there assist his office with investigations into human trafficking and other serious crimes.
Holihan said the partnership with DHS is critical and offered to cover the rent using drug asset forfeiture funds to keep the office open. Pinsley rejected that approach, saying the work could continue elsewhere but not in a county building if rent is not paid.
“We appreciate the work being done,” Pinsley said. “But they don’t need to be in our building, especially if they’re not paying. We’re going to give them a taste of their own medicine. We’re going to deport ICE.”
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican whose district includes the Lehigh Valley, criticized Pinsley and Siegel, calling the eviction effort a distraction from law enforcement’s work.
“Politics should never get in the way of allowing law enforcement to do its job,” Mackenzie said in a statement, accusing Pinsley of targeting an office that investigates human trafficking and other serious crimes.
Pinsley, a Democrat running for Congress in the 7th District, has said the situation highlights broader concerns about ICE and DHS practices nationwide.
According to Pinsley, unpaid rent currently totals $115,425.51, with potential late fees pushing the amount higher. DHS and ICE did not respond to requests for comment.
County Commissioner Ron Beitler also weighed in, noting that DHS has indicated it intends to pay the outstanding balance once a fully executed agreement is in place. While agreeing that the county should collect every dollar owed, Beitler cautioned against framing the eviction as a move against ICE.
“Evicting DHS from this building is not evicting ICE,” Beitler said in a social media post. “It is evicting a critically important human trafficking task force.”
The issue drew public comment at Tuesday’s news conference, including remarks from members of Make the Road Pennsylvania, an immigrant advocacy group. Speaking through a translator, organizer Dahiana Espinal called ICE a rogue agency and urged the county to remove federal immigration enforcement from local government spaces altogether.
The county is expected to head toward a legal fight over the unpaid rent and the eviction, with officials on multiple sides saying the outcome could have lasting implications for public safety partnerships.
Isabel Hope is a journalist and website designer based in Bethlehem, PA. She graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of Alabama in 2022, where she served as News Editor of the student newspaper. Isabel has lived in the Lehigh Valley for three years and is passionate about reporting for the communities she now calls home.