ICE is here in Pennsylvania

& May Be Trump’s Next Primary Target

What We Can Do in WestMoCo?

Let’s talk about 287(g) agreements

In Westmoreland County, three local agencies are partnered with ICE: Unity Township constable, Lower Burrell 4th Ward constable and Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office. Let’s try to prevent any more!

First, learn about 287(g) agreements. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center has created a great toolkit for ending 287(g)s locally.

Reach out to local law enforcement, and let them know where you stand on cooperation with ICE. WTF Can I Do Westmoreland will be writing letters to each of these departments. We will then be recruiting citizens in these jurisdictions to obtain petition signatures and set up meetings the departments to let them know that their community does not support any agreements with ICE.

Reach out to the politicians who vote on these agreements. Our first meeting target will be the 2/12 Westmoreland County Commissioners public meeting. WTF Can I Do Westmoreland will be recruiting citizens to speak at meetings of city council, municipal government, etc. to let them know that their community dose not support any agreements with ICE.

REMEMBER: Aside from moral/humanitarian issues:

Partnering with ICE costs the community money.
Partnering with ICE set the community up for legal liability.

These points may help win over our MAGA friends more than appeals to kindness and love.

What is a 287(g) agreement?

A 287(g) agreement is a partnership between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and state or local law enforcement agencies, authorized by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, that deputizes selected local officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions, effectively making them temporary immigration agents to identify, detain, and process individuals for deportation, often within jails or through task forces, extending ICE's reach

Report ICE activity

When reporting information, remember the acronym SALUTE.

Size: How many agents or vehicles are present?
Activity: What are they doing? (e.g., stopping someone, searching)
Location: The specific street address, intersections, or landmarks
Unit/Uniform: What agency (ICE, local police) and what are they wearing?
Time: The exact time and date of the observation
Equipment: Are they armed? What tools or cars are in use?

Key Safety Guidelines:

Do not interfere: Observe from a safe distance.
Record safely: You have the right to film in public, but do not risk your safety.
Report instantly: Send this information immediately to your local Rapid Response Hotline.
Know your rights: If approached, you have the right to remain silent. Do not open your door unless they have a warrant signed by a judge.