The Pennsylvania GOP announced on X that a proposed resolution in Dauphin County, which would block county employees from contracting or coordinating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), puts public safety at risk by prioritizing politics over safety.
According to Local21News / WHP, Dauphin County Commissioners voted against the resolution that would have limited county workers from working with ICE. Only Commissioner Justin Douglas supported the measure, while Commissioners Mike Pries and George Hartwick voted it down. This reflects community and official concerns about restricting law enforcement cooperation.
As reported by Keystone Today, the proposed resolution was set to stop local government staff from entering contracts with or assisting ICE; the Pennsylvania GOP framed this as a move that places politics above public safety, warning it could leave law enforcement and families unprotected. GOP communications emphasized that the resolution would hinder collaboration vital to dealing with undocumented individuals who commit crimes.
State Representatives Joe Kerwin and Tom Mehaffie also weighed in, according to their joint statement published by Mehaffie’s office. They applauded Commissioners Pries and Hartwick for rejecting the resolution. Kerwin said limiting communication between county agencies and federal immigration authorities would “have put Dauphin County residents at risk” and “hamstrung local law enforcement.”
The Pennsylvania GOP is the official state affiliate of the Republican Party, promoting conservative policies across Pennsylvania. According to its platform and public messaging (including its Secure PA initiative), the party supports law enforcement, strict immigration enforcement, and believes local government should fully cooperate with federal authorities like ICE — positions consistent with its criticism of the Dauphin County proposal.
