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Stay Engaged.

Stay Informed.

A Quiet Decision
A Serious Consequence

January 5
Council voted to authorize submission of a letter of interest — not a finalized agreement.

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February 6
A full 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement was signed, deputizing local officers to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions under ICE supervision.

When acting under this agreement, participating officers operate under federal authority. That authority may extend beyond routine borough patrol and includes immigration-related duties assigned by ICE.

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February 9
At the Borough Council meeting, residents were not informed that the agreement had already been executed. Questions raised by community members were not addressed.

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March 9
Residents are asking for clear answers, documentation, and open public discussion.

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Federal deputization of local police is not a routine administrative matter. It represents a structural shift in authority with implications for public safety, legal exposure, municipal oversight, and community trust. Decisions of this magnitude require full transparency.

The Record Speaks for Itself

Memoradum of Agreement

A copy of the 287(g) Task Force Model that was signed my Tom Day on February 6th, 2026

Read More

MHS SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT

Mt. Holly Springs' Second Amended Complaint

Read More

South Middleton's Answer and Counter claims

South Middleton's Answer and Counterclaims and New Matter

Read More

WHAT THIS AGREEMENT DOES

AND WHY IT MATTERS

The signed 287(g) agreement authorizes Mount Holly Springs officers to be deputized by ICE.

 

That means they can act as federal immigration agents while still serving as local police.

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When operating under this authority, they take direction from ICE — not just local leadership. Their duties are not limited to routine borough patrol and are not confined to Mt. Holly Springs.

 

In practical terms, local officers can be assigned federal immigration enforcement work, including activity outside the borough.

 

This is a significant expansion of role and authority for a small-town police department. It affects not only Mt. Holly Springs, but surrounding communities where those federal duties may occur.

 

Such a shift deserves clear explanation, full documentation, and open public discussion.

Council Meeting • SHOW UP • April 13th • SPEAK OUT • 6:00 PM

This is a Major Expansion of Authority

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Decisions of this magnitude should never happen quietly.

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MT. HOLLY SPRINGS IS A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY

We are a quiet town where neighbors know each other and problems are addressed through dialogue, not escalation.

 

Introducing federal immigration enforcement into local policing risks bringing tension, fear, and conflict into a place that does not need it.

 

Recent national incidents involving federal immigration agents, including cases now under civil-rights investigation, underscore why accountability and oversight matter.

 

We should be cautious before inviting federal enforcement dynamics into a small town like ours.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Major policing decisions must be public, transparent, and accountable

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Local police resources should prioritize local public saftey responsibilities

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Municipalities should not assume legal or financial risk without full public review​

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Public saftey works best when everyone feels safe calling for help
 

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This is not about politics
This is about good governance, community trust, and staying true to who we are

Legal & Financial Risk

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Before any decision is made, residents deserve clear, complete information about legal exposure, liability, and who is responsible when things go wrong

Liability & Indemnification​

The signed Memorandum of Agreement outlines liability provisions but does not include a clear indemnification guarantee for the Borough. When local officers act under ICE direction, municipalities may bear legal responsibility for their actions. In other Pennsylvania jurisdictions, participation in similar agreements has raised concerns about potential civil-rights claims and financial exposure.

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Detainers & Constitutional Risk

Federal immigration detainers are administrative requests, not judicial warrants. Courts have found that extended detention based solely on a detainer may raise constitutional concerns, potentially exposing municipalities to civil-rights claims.

 

Potential Financial Exposure

Civil-rights litigation can result in significant legal defense costs, settlements, or judgments that are ultimately funded by taxpayers.

 

Public Records & Process

Transparency has real costs—and real importance. Right-to-Know requests must be reviewed by the Borough Solicitor, creating legal fees, but residents have the right to request and review any proposed 287(g) agreement before a vote.

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On January 5, Council voted to authorize submission of a letter of interest. Residents are seeking clarification regarding whether Council formally voted on the final signed agreement prior to execution.

The 287(g) agreement is not simply about assisting with traffic enforcement.

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Under this agreement, participating local officers may be deputized to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions under ICE supervision. When acting in that capacity, they operate under federal authority — not solely as local municipal police.

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This represents a meaningful shift in role.

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Participation in the task force model of 287(g) allows deputized officers to carry out immigration-related duties assigned or directed by ICE. That authority is not limited strictly to routine borough patrol and may include enforcement actions beyond municipal boundaries when operating under federal supervision.

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For a small department, this raises practical questions:

• How will local coverage be maintained if officers are engaged in federal duties?
• What are the limits of ICE direction and supervision?
• How will the Borough balance local policing responsibilities with federal assignments?

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These are structural questions — not political ones.

A Shift in Policing Authority

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Local Priorities
vs
Federal Enforcement

Concerns about truck traffic, congestion, and infrastructure strain in Mt. Holly Springs are real and shared across the community.

 

But immigration enforcement does not address road design, GPS routing failures, bridge weight limits, or commercial logistics compliance.

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Road safety is a local responsibility.
Immigration enforcement is a federal one.

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Redirecting local police time, training, and oversight toward federal enforcement functions changes the focus of a small-town department. Before that shift occurs, residents deserve clarity about scope, limits, and accountability.

Our Call To Action

Show Up. Demand Transparency. Protect Our Community.

With a Borough Council meeting scheduled for March 9, residents are encouraged to:

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  1.  Attend the March 9 borough council meeting & rally at 6:00 PM at 200 Harman Street

  2.  Call for clear, public explanation of the signed 287(g) agreement

  3. Insist on full transparency regarding federal authority, legal exposure, and municipal oversight

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A federal immigration enforcement agreement has been executed.


Public accountability must happen in public.

Stay Informed. Engage Locally. Shape the Future Together.

Mt. Holly Springs Indivisible is a local chapter of Indivisible, a national grassroots organization supporting democratic accountability and civic participation. Our members are local residents working to promote transparency, public safety, and responsible local governance.

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