The Board of Commissioners understands that there are questions and concerns about the role of the Springfield Township Police Department when it comes to immigration enforcement. The Board and the Springfield Township Police Department would like to clarify what our local police department does and does not do regarding this matter.
What the Springfield Township Police Department Does:
- Serve all residents of Springfield Township, regardless of immigration status.
- Enforce local and state laws to ensure public safety for all members of our community.
- Investigate crimes and work to protect victims and witnesses, regardless of their immigration status.
What the Springfield Township Police Department Does Not Do:
- Enforce federal immigration laws; Immigration enforcement is the sole responsibility of the federal government.
- Inquire about an individual’s immigration status during routine policing activities.
- Conduct immigration enforcement actions or detain individuals based solely on their immigration status.
- Provide personal information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless required by a judicial warrant or subpoena.
- Honor detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without an executed judicial warrant.
Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and local police departments are not required to enforce federal immigration laws unless they have a formal agreement to do so. The Springfield Township Police Department has no such agreement and does not intend to enter into any such agreement in the future. The Police Department remains focused on its mission of serving and protecting all members of the Springfield Township community.
If you or someone you know have questions about immigration status or need assistance with immigration-related matters, you are encouraged to contact a qualified legal professional or the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, 717-600-8099 or www.PIRCLaw.org.
