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The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office moved to reassure residents Tuesday (February 24) that its partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is limited in scope, pushing back against community concerns about the agreement's impact on public safety.
According to CBS 21, District Attorney Heather Adams issued a detailed statement saying the office signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE in September 2025. That agreement allows local officers to be trained by ICE and carry out certain immigration enforcement functions under the agency's direction. Adams said the DA's office has always cooperated with federal law enforcement, including the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
"No one in our office is conducting immigration 'sweeps' or stopping cars as a part of our 287(g) agreement to assist in immigration enforcement," Adams said.
The Scope of the Program
Adams said only one "highly trained detective" is currently assigned to the 287(g) program. That detective completed 40 hours of online training and already had experience working with the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force. The DA's office says the detective's activities under the agreement have been minimal and consistent with his normal duties.
According to CBS 21, the detective has recently been asked to assist with the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) Safety Verification Initiative — a federal program focused on confirming the safety and whereabouts of unaccompanied immigrant minors.
"The goal is to ensure that these minors are safe, accounted for, connected to appropriate services for when concerns arise and ultimately to safeguard them from human trafficking, exploitation and abuse," Adams said.
The detective conducted safety and wellness checks on several unaccompanied immigrant minors in Lancaster County, confirming their home addresses, school enrollment, and adult sponsors. Data from those checks was submitted to ICE for review, and will later be shared with the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Courthouse Arrests and Liaison Role
Adams also noted that the DA's office has helped ICE arrest individuals inside the Lancaster County Courthouse at the end of unrelated criminal proceedings — a practice she said has been in place for decades. Those individuals had both pending criminal charges in Lancaster County and final removal orders signed by a judge.
"Executing these arrests inside the courthouse is not only a more efficient use of manpower but is also safer for the public, law enforcement and the defendant," Adams said.
The detective also serves as a point of contact for local police departments that have questions about immigration-related policies, connecting them with ICE resources when needed.
Community Pushback
The statement comes as community opposition to local ICE partnerships continues to grow. According to local21news.com, more than 2,600 people have signed a petition calling on Lancaster County Sheriff Chris Leppler to end his office's own separate 287(g) task force agreement with ICE. Petitioners presented their signatures at a Lancaster County Prison Board meeting, with Pennsylvania State Representatives Ismail Smith-Wade-El and Nikki Rivera, as well as area faith leaders, attending a follow-up press conference.
Residents have pointed out that Lancaster is widely recognized as the refugee capital of the United States, arguing the ICE agreements conflict with the county's values.
Adams acknowledged the opposition and warned that incorrectly identifying local law enforcement operations as ICE activity — as happened during a Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) deployment in Lancaster City in January — could endanger the public.
"To be clear, we support the right for everyone to peacefully protest, but anyone who interferes with or obstructs the administration of law or intentionally endangers a law enforcement officer — local or federal — will be held accountable," Adams said.
The DA's office also noted that, while the 287(g) program allows for reimbursement of salaries, overtime, and equipment costs, it has not yet sought reimbursement but intends to do so in the near future.