Ambler Mayor Jeanne Sorg and Police Chief Jeff Borkowski issued a memorandum on Friday, August 1 which provides immigration guidelines regarding ongoing federal immigration enforcement, The Reporter said.

“These policies reflect Ambler borough’s commitment to upholding constitutional protections, maintaining public safety and ensuring local resources remain focused on local priorities,” Borkowski and Sorg said in the joint statement, adding that “borough employees shall not be deputized as federal immigration agents.”

It continues:

The Ambler Borough Police Department does not honor immigration detainer requests or administrative warrants unless accompanied by a properly executed judicial warrant.

Officers and staff of the Ambler Borough Police Department shall not inquire about, collect or share immigration status information except as it is required by law or when directly relevant to a specific criminal investigation.

The Reporter’s article also notes a recent Change.org petition created by Community for Change Montgomery County, which has 147 signatures at the time of this writing.

The petition, titled “Petition · Welcoming 62: A County-Wide Call to Protect Our Communities”, says that “Welcoming Policies” initiated by municipalities like Ambler and Norristown “provide a clear legal framework to prevent unnecessary cooperation with immigration enforcement while remaining in full compliance with the law.”

An excerpt from the petition:

Montgomery County is home to nearly 100,000 immigrants — our neighbors, coworkers, classmates, friends, and family. These community members are an essential part of our county’s fabric. And yet, they are increasingly under threat from federal law enforcement agencies that are violating constitutional protections, bypassing due process, and targeting people for detention and deportation based on their perceived immigration status.

We have every reason to believe this escalation will continue. ICE and other federal agencies are operating with impunity, committing civil rights abuses across Pennsylvania and the country. We must now ask: will our local municipalities uphold the rights and safety of the people they serve — or will they stand by, or even assist, as federal agencies break the law and tear families apart?

Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement