Democrats in Pottsville plan to stage a rally in front of City Hall this afternoon regarding an expected vote on the City’s potential enrollment in the ICE 287(g) program.
The 287(g) program bestows limited federal immigration law enforcement powers onto municipal police forces. Several police departments have already enrolled in the program, including Frackville, Kline Township, Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Office, Schuylkill Haven, and Shenandoah.
Last month, Pottsville City Council was set to vote on whether to join the 287(g) Task Force Model program as others have done in Schuylkill County. But a vote was taken to table that motion until May’s meeting. According to the agenda for the May 11 meeting, council members will once again consider enrolling.
But before that vote takes place, the City of Pottsville Democratic Committee plans to stage a rally to raise awareness to the potential pitfall of joining. The committee is against a vote to join. The rally is planned for 4:30 p.m. Monday, a half-hour before the regular council meeting at 5 p.m.
“The people of Pottsville deserve answers before city leaders move forward with policies that could fundamentally change the relationship between our Police Department and the community it serves,” interim committee chairman Grisha Eidinov says in a statement released to Coal Region Canary. “Residents have raised serious and reasonable questions regarding the potential costs, liability, oversight, and long-term impact of entering into a 287(g) agreement. Those concerns should not be dismissed or politicized. They deserve honest public discussion and transparency from local leadership.”
According to Eidinov, the city Democrats aren’t trying to debate border security. Instead, he says the discussion should be about whether the burden of enforcing immigration laws should fall on local law enforcement. He says joining the 287(g) program could erode public trust in the Pottsville police force.
“When trust between residents and local law enforcement is weakened, communities become less safe. Victims may become less likely to report crimes. Witnesses may become less willing to cooperate. Police resources may become increasingly strained. These are legitimate public safety concerns that affect every resident of Pottsville, regardless of political affiliation,” Eidinov says.
Based purely on the discussion at April’s council meeting, Councilman Scott Price – who initiated the vote to table a final roll call on joining the program – appears to be the deciding factor.
Democrats Andy Wollyung and Dottie Botto signaled they’ll be voting against joining 287(g). Councilman Jonathan Marsh and Mayor Tom Smith voted against tabling the vote last month.
Smith indicated he’s in favor of signing on to the ICE program. He said ICE agents already operate in Pottsville and joining 287(g) would provide the City’s police force with the training to “better handle this situation.”
“I’m not thrilled about it myself but they’re already here,” Smith said.
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