South Lebanon Township supervisors give final approval on ICE agreement 

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

The South Lebanon Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to give final approval to an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, formalizing the township’s participation in the federal partnership program.

“This is standard stuff,” said chairman Stephen Krause. “We cooperate with every law enforcement agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.”

The 287(g) agreement had already been signed by the South Lebanon Township police chief as of Feb. 10, according to the ICE website. 

This agreement allows ICE to “delegate state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under ICE’s direction and oversight,” according to the federal agency. 

The board then heard a concern raised by South Lebanon Township community member Ferris Hoover over the recent agreement signed by board, which designated First Aid & Safety Patrol as primary response for ambulance services within the township. His concern focused on wanting to ensure that all local emergency providers will still receive alerts even if they are indicated to not have any vehicles in service. 

The board said it is not aware of any planned changes to the current process for notifying emergency service providers but will look further into the matter.

In other news, the board: 

• Unanimously approved the set up of a FCCB Signature card account, which is utilized if they are to receive reimbursements from police expenses, including any that may come from the 287(g) agreement. 
• Unanimously approved the purchase of a 24-inch cutter mill for $23,623. This was a budgeted item purchase. 
• Denied a donation request for Jonestown’s America250 parade, under the advisement that there will be a larger countywide celebration by America250 Lebanon County at the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center.