In response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the County District Attorney and Association of Police Chiefs have issued a carefully-worded statement about their policy regarding activities by federal agents in Chester County.  The two-page statement can be viewed here. The statement lists three basic principles that will guide local law enforcement under these conditions.

No enforcement of immigration orders. Local police will not enforce civil immigration orders, and none of the County’s police departments have signed agreements with ICE to do so.

Level of intervention if there is a law-enforcement shooting or similar event. Local police will ensure that people in the area are safe, provide first aid, and secure the crime scene. The incident will be investigated by independent detectives and prosecutors, regardless of whether federal law enforcement was involved.

Protection of the public, regardless of immigration status. Local police will “keep families, businesses, and their property safe” and will hold everyone accountable for interfering with law enforcement.

I am glad to see our local officials coming forward with this statement. It seems to be a tacit recognition that federal immigration agents may be out of control, and our local law enforcement will not go along with that.

At the same time, the statement does not say that local police will intervene if federal agents are acting in unlawful ways. It is unrealistic to expect that. Nor does it give support to protesters who break the law. But the statement does serve as a warning to federal agents that they will be held to account for their actions.