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Limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and terms for the County Executive

Note: while the Allegheny County Council held its scheduled meeting on Jan. 27, it did not vote on any items due to the snowstorm. Members also did not discuss the bills, all of which were held or referred to committee as appropriate.

County Council

County may codify a lack of cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Allegheny County serves residents regardless of immigration status, but that practice isn't written into county law. Six county council members have now proposed an ordinance to codify it. It would also bar county police and workers from helping federal immigration agents without a federal court order. For now, the bill has gone to the public safety committee.

Written by Amy Whipple

As federal immigration enforcement continues, some members of Allegheny County Council want to help protect vulnerable residents.

Six co-sponsors put forth an ordinance that would codify the county’s practice of providing services regardless of refugee or immigration status and formally add a policy forbidding Allegheny County Police to work in cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The legislation bars county law enforcement (including the Sheriff’s office), employees and agencies from assisting ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), as well as any future agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, without federal judicial orders.

It also prohibits county agencies from entering into contracts or arrangements with federal agencies to provide county database access. The county’s Department of Human Services maintains a $6.5 million per year Data Warehouse that includes 21 categories of data on residents both internally and externally sourced.

Any existing data-sharing agreements will need to be terminated within 60 days of the legislation’s effective date or as soon as permitted without penalty.

The legislation also codifies current policies at the Allegheny County Jail, including detaining incarcerated individuals past their eligible release date at federal request and not notifying immigration enforcement ahead of someone’s scheduled release. The jail also cannot be used to hold people detained by ICE or CBP.

If adopted by council, restrictions would not apply to municipal police departments or other law enforcement agencies operating within the county. Currently, the sixth ward constable in Monroeville and the Springdale police department have cooperation agreements with ICE.

The bill was referred to the public safety committee. 

County Council

The county executive may be limited to three terms total.

Allegheny County's charter limits the executive to three terms in a row, but doesn't bar a return after a break. Five county council members want voters to close that gap with a May ballot question capping the job at three terms total. The ordinance calls that ambiguity undesirable. Next, the bill goes to the government reform committee.

Written by Amy Whipple

Council would like voters to close a potential loophole in the home rule charter.

Five council members proposed a referendum for the May primary election ballot that would limit the County Executive position to three terms.

Currently, the charter limits the executive to three consecutive terms and does not prohibit additional service after a break. The ordinance calls the ambiguity “undesirable” and cautions against its potential abuse. The rationale for the proposed limit is that it allows for both “extended public service” as well as “expanding access” to the position.

The executive is the highest elected county official and is responsible for the oversight and operation of 20 departments. While they may appoint a designee, whoever holds the role is also the sole official designated to negotiate and sign contracts and agreements on behalf of the county.

Sara Innamorato is the fourth person to serve in the role, which was first held by Jim Roddey. The county’s move from a three-commissioner system to a home rule charter created the position—and the council—in 2000. Rich Fitzgerald is the only executive to serve three terms (2012-2024). 

The bill was referred to the government reform committee.