Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and the Patrick Molloy, Chief of the Abington Township Police Department and President of the Montgomery County Police Chiefs Association, released today a joint statement clarifying the county’s role in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations (ICE) operations.

The statement says that Montgomery County law enforcement does not enforce civil immigration orders and that no Montgomery County police departments have signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE.

“The Montgomery County Detective Bureau and police departments in Montgomery County do not enforce civil immigration orders; enforceable warrants must be signed by a judge,” the statement says.

The statement also notes that local detectives will conduct a full independent investigation in any fatal shooting or use-of-force incident, regardless of whether local, state, or federal agencies are involved.

The statement concludes by saying that while “residents are able to exercise their rights to peacefully assemble and protest”, “No one is above the law” and that “we will hold people accountable for interfering with law enforcement, and we will keep families, businesses and property safe during times of unrest.”

The full letter is below: