Haverford Township talks ICE with its own police force
In the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ activities in the area, including a recent arrest in neighboring Lower Merion, Ward 6 Haverford Commissioner Larry Holmes asked Police Chief John Viola to weigh in during the Feb. 9 Board of Commissioners meeting.
“There is no advance notification to any local police department of ICE activity, is that correct?” asked Holmes.
Viola said, “I think the federal agency operating ICE made it clear to Upper Darby and Lower Merion that they will have no contact with the jurisdiction while they’re operating in the township.”
Viola noted the Jan. 30 incident in Lower Merion Township was “very close to the border with Haverford Township. Neighbors did film it, but nobody called 911.”
ICE agents had arrested two men on Overbrook Parkway in Penn Wynne.
Haverford Police will respond if someone calls 911 to report unknown law enforcement activity, he said. Lower Merion and Upper Darby police would also respond in those townships, he said.
“We will identify who that agency is,” said Viola. “We will not get involved, nor will we interfere if they’re making a legal arrest.”
Holmes asked, “What is the benefit to our residents to call you immediately if they see them in Haverford Township?”
“It helps us identify who is operating there,” Viola responded. “We’ve seen the news.”
Officers will “make sure their search warrants are legal.
“Is this the most effective way for people in Haverford Township to make sure these situations don’t escalate?” Holmes asked.
“Having any marked law enforcement there would hopefully de-escalate the situation,” said Viola. “All of our officers are trained in de-escalation techniques and we will help in any way we can. But to be clear, law enforcement agencies are allowed to operate and we will not interfere as long as they are operating legally.”
Holmes asked whether Haverford Police have a formal agreement with ICE. Viola said no.
“We have never been contacted by the federal government for any assistance,” said Viola.
Later, Main Line Now asked Viola if other law enforcement agencies, like the FBI or Pennsylvania State Police, notify the department before coming into their jurisdiction to serve a warrant.
“Most of the time agencies notify you as a courtesy,” Viola said.
Asked why he wanted residents to call 911 if they were concerned about any law enforcement activity, he said Haverford officers would come out to verify it was law enforcement. And they would “stand by to make sure everybody is safe.”
Asked if by everybody, he meant the ICE agents, as well as any protestors, he repeated the word “everybody.”
“We have de-escalation training and crowd control training,” he said about his 71-officer police department.
Viola declined to comment on whether the tragic shooting deaths during ICE raids in Minneapolis might not have occurred if the Minneapolis police had been present, controlling the crowds of demonstrators.
In a January 20 press release, the Department of Homeland Security said an estimated 2.2 million people self-deported, and more than 675,000 deportations have occurred since President Trump took office last year. ICE has been highlighting its arrests of the “Worst of the Worst.”
A spokesperson for ICE did not respond to a request for comment for this report.
