PITTSBURGH — ICE is cracking down on illegal immigration throughout the region, with some local cities and counties on opposite sides of the spectrum.
In just one week, Washington County Commissioner Nick Sherman tells Channel 11 police arrested five undocumented immigrants, who have since been transferred to ICE custody.
>> 30 Pittsburgh businesses temporarily close to protect people from ICE raids, sources say
“If you’re here illegally, you gotta go. This is what we are dealing with. These are people here illegally and breaking the law,” Sherman said.
So far, according to the commissioner, ICE hasn’t raided businesses in Washington County, but the jail has released undocumented inmates to ICE.
“These are bad actors who are doing bad things… who we need to get off the tax roll so we can take care of our own people,” he added.
In Allegheny County, Channel 11 confirmed ICE has been at multiple businesses over the last few days, and several people were taken into ICE custody. Now, they’re now in the process of being deported. ICE has been doing what it calls “Targeted Enforcement Operations.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey told reporters he will not be working with ICE, nor will his administration.
Late Tuesday afternoon, in response to Mayor Gainey’s statement, Senator Dave McCormick tweeted
“The Mayor needs to follow the law and the lead of some other Democratic mayors who are working with law enforcement to keep our cities safe. Mayors will no longer get a pass for taking the law into their own hands.”
As for Sherman, he made it clear Washington is not a sanctuary county.
“This isn’t targeting people. This is enforcing the law that we have on the books, so we have to be crystal clear on that. We have always done things for the longest time, and we got away from it. I welcome the change to bring back law and order to Washington County.”
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