Last month, I moved to evict Immigrations and Customs Enforcement from our county facility. The decision was based on the Department of Homeland Security and ICE’s national reputation for deadly, reckless and chaotic immigration enforcement. From the beginning, my singular concern has been preserving the credibility, trust and independence of our county and ensuring all residents feel confident in using the services we provide.
Leaders must always balance risk vs. reward. Maintaining a formal relationship with the Trump administration’s DHS posed far too many risks to our public reputation and integrity, especially among our most vulnerable residents. This isn’t opinion, but rather indisputable fact reflected in the experience of local prosecutors, police departments and human trafficking social service providers across the country.
Public safety is the most sacred obligation of our government. When victims of crime or witnesses fear contacting local authorities or reaching out for help because of concerns over collaboration with federal immigration authorities, we’re all less safe. To that point, the Los Angeles Police Department reported that sexual assault calls among Hispanic women dropped by 25% and domestic violence calls dropped by 10% during Trump’s first term over fears of deportation.
The American Civil Liberties Union and National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project found fear of deportation and the physical presence of immigration authorities at local courthouses stopped immigrants from reporting crimes and testifying in court. Fifty percent of police officers surveyed indicated that domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault crimes were harder to investigate because immigrant crime survivors are afraid to seek assistance, according to the organizations. Public safety requires trust from the community.
Put yourself in the shoes of an immigrant, permanent legal resident, undocumented individual or mixed-immigration-status household who has witnessed daily evidence of the Trump administration’s lawless and violent deportation program.
Two U.S citizens have been brutally slain, over 100 Americans have been detained by ICE, and detention facilities are rife with physical and sexual abuses and inadequate care. Raids are militarized and terrifying. DHS’s national brand is one of fear, incompetence and aggression. Many ICE agents are poorly trained, unqualified and increasingly careless with the lives of protesters and migrants alike.
Is that individual, upon hearing that Lehigh County has a formal relationship with ICE and the Trump administration’s DHS, going to trust contacting us to report a crime to the district attorney, seek help for mental health or addiction, or request services for their child? The answer is no, and the evidence supporting that is nondebatable.
Among human trafficking survivors, 77% are immigrants and 82% of human trafficking social service providers say fears over deportation compel survivors not to seek help or assistance.
In fact, by Homeland Security Investigations’ own admission, stated in an internal email, “HSI’s affiliation with ICE significantly impedes investigations and HSI’s ability to fulfill its mission.” A report found 77 instances where that made it difficult to build trust with victims of crime and community groups.
Locally, in ICE’s own June 11, 2025, statement, it listed HSI Allentown as one of the forces that rounded up 17 workers in south Bethlehem who were just repairing an apartment complex. As of today, according to reports, all 6,000 HSI agents across the country are operating under President Trump’s executive order directing them to prioritize assisting with deportations over investigating child trafficking and human trafficking.
As a result, DHS is spending 33% fewer hours investigating child exploitation cases. Federal agents from the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration have all been ordered to refocus on deportations, reducing federal prosecutions for serious crimes like drug trafficking and money laundering.
Under these conditions, any cooperation with ICE would cause Lehigh County to lose hard-earned and well-deserved local trust from victims of crimes ranging from petty theft and assault to rape and human trafficking, forcing them to forgo justice and help. In that world, criminals and their organizations win, and all of us suffer.
Lehigh County’s efforts to maintain trust must go well beyond ending a lease. We must lead by sending the message loud and clear to all our residents that we stand against ICE and the Trump administration’s reckless and destructive immigration policy.
My administration will soon be introducing legislation to protect our residents from ICE’s overreach and leave no question that Lehigh County will not assist in DHS’s campaign of terror and violence. Our legislation will ensure county employees and resources, unless compelled by law, will never be required to cooperate or communicate with ICE. We will signal that our facilities and county assets will never be used for detention, and that our public safety personnel will never be deputized to serve alongside ICE. Lehigh County must be clear in our message and actions that all people in the county can depend on our services without fear for their safety.
This is a contributed opinion column. Josh Siegel is the Lehigh County executive. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication. For more details on commentaries, read our guide to guest opinions at themorningcall.com/opinions.