Montco Lands On Homeland Security List For 'Undermining Federal Law'

NORRISTOWN, PA — Officials in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security have included Montgomery County on a national list of jurisdictions they say are deliberately obstructing the Trump administration's mass deportations of immigrants.

The list published this week lists more than 500 "sanctuary" counties and cities and even a few states, which federal officials say have refused to comply with federal law. Montgomery County and many others, however, have long maintained their right to protect immigrants, and have accused the Trump administration's policies of violating civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

"Montgomery County was named on the Administration’s target list today," Commissioner Neil Makhija said in a response on social media that included a "shrug" emoji. "Thankfully, the Constitution protects our right to be a welcoming, safe community—and we’ll keep investing in mental health, housing, and real public safety."

The Homeland Security list includes a statement describing the sanctuary jurisdictions' "deliberate and shameful obstruction" of the recent Trump executive order.

"Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril," the department said.

Montgomery County and others will receive a "formal notification" of its violations, though it remains unclear how enforceable the demands are.

"DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens," the Homeland Security statement adds.

Montgomery County's leadership has been nothing but brash about its stance on immigration, creating both a new Immigrant Resource Center and hiring a new director of Immigrant Affairs since Trump's inauguration.

While de facto policy is one thing, the county has also been vocal and straightforward that they will not cooperate with federal requests to have local law enforcement assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in executing mass deportations.

"When traffic stops become de facto immigration checks, we create a subset of residents forced to live further in the shadows," Commissioners Makhija and Jamila Winder wrote in a recent Inquirer opinion piece. "This doesn‘t enhance public safety — it compromises it."

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, they argue, is not based in fact, citing studies from the conservative-leaning Cato Institute that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes.

A total of 11 counties in Pennsylvania made the new federal list: Adams, Allegheny, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, and Northampton.

Five Pennsylvania cities did as well: Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and York.