Across the country, hundreds of law enforcement agencies have signed up to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration arrests. These agreements, known as 287(g) agreements, take important resources away from local matters to instead put police time and funds towards federal matters. Given these facts, it would be especially concerning if the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) were to participate in such an agreement. While there has been no stated interest in doing so by the PSP, and in fact they have adopted internal policies that prohibit such an agreement, I believe it is important to statutorily ensure that no such agreement can ever take place. As such, I plan on introducing legislation that would prohibit the PSP from entering into an agreement with ICE to perform federal immigration duties.
 
Two-thirds of Pennsylvania municipalities rely on part-time or full-time PSP coverage at increasing costs to the agency and the taxpayer. Given their expansive coverage area and growing patrol costs, I believe that it is important that we ensure that the PSP cannot involve itself in the work of federal immigration authorities. The PSP joining a 287(g) agreement would only result in a higher workload for troopers, more burdens for taxpayers, and less faith in the PSP by the communities that rely on them.
 
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure that state troopers can stay committed to their responsibilities, and not those of the federal government.