by Dan Doyle | October 15, 2025
DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Bucks County court has upheld the authority of the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office to participate in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) task force model, clearing the way for deputies to assist in identifying individuals in custody who are also in the country illegally.
The ruling, issued Wednesday, affirms that the Sheriff’s Office can move forward with the partnership, a collaboration Sheriff Fred Harran has described as a “common-sense public safety tool” designed to enhance local law enforcement capabilities while reducing costs to county taxpayers.
Under the 287(g) program, specially trained deputies work with ICE to identify and process individuals who are already in custody on criminal charges or outstanding Bucks County warrants and are found to be in the United States unlawfully.
In a statement following the decision, Sheriff Harran praised the ruling as “a victory for the law-abiding residents of Bucks County.”
“This decision affirms our ability to use this simple tool to ensure individuals who commit crimes in our county are held fully accountable – regardless of their immigration status,” Harran said. “This partnership is a fiscally responsible force multiplier for our taxpayers as the specialized training for our deputies is provided at no cost to the county.”
Harran emphasized that the program does not authorize general immigration enforcement, calling it “a targeted public safety tool.” He added that the ruling should put to rest what he described as “misinformation” that has surrounded the initiative since its introduction.
“Now that the court has affirmed our position, we can move past these distractions and continue our mission to protect the families of Bucks County,” he said.
The Sheriff’s Office maintains that by transferring individuals who are not in the country legally to federal custody, Bucks County can avoid the costs associated with their local incarceration.
The ICE 287(g) task force model has been both praised and criticized nationwide supporters argue it enhances community safety and cooperation between agencies, while opponents contend it risks blurring the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement.
For now, the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office plans to move forward with implementation, training, and coordination under the newly affirmed program.
To read the court’s decision click on the link: