The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office signed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Memorandum of Agreement or “287(g) agreement” approximately one year ago in August 2025.

“We view this agreement as a standard agreement similar to those signed for participation in other federal task forces. We are aware that some have objected to us signing this agreement.  District Attorney Heather Adams said, "Over the past year, we do not believe the community has been harmed in any way by this agreement, and we do not intend to withdraw from it.”  

Many incorrectly believe that participation in the task force model will increase ICE presence in Lancaster County.  This is clearly not the case as this past year demonstrates.  It must also be noted that withdrawing from the agreement would not prohibit ICE from appearing or performing enforcement actions in Lancaster County. 

It is Lancaster County’s cooperation, communication and coordination with ICE as a whole that has mitigated the need for a large-scale ICE presence and large-scale targeted enforcement actions.  Many illegal aliens who have committed crimes have been safely taken into custody from the Lancaster County Prison or at the Courthouse.  Currently, approximately 18 illegal aliens are incarcerated at the Lancaster County Prison and will be subject to ICE custody after the conclusion of their case.  Allowing ICE to take custody of an illegal alien in the confines of a jail in a controlled environment removes the need for a larger number of ICE agents necessary to arrest someone who is not in custody and is present in the community.  This also minimizes the operational risks for officers and the defendant and greatly increases public safety for the community by having the subject arrested and detained by ICE before being released back into the community. 

“The reality is that the community has greatly benefited from this continued partnership as many illegal aliens who have committed crimes while here illegally were apprehended and removed or are currently in the process of being removed from the country,” said District Attorney Adams.  

The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has also recently signed a 287(g)-service agreement for the purpose of receiving stipends or reimbursable costs incurred by Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office in providing resources to operations pursuant to the 287(g) agreement. This agreement is for a term of three years, unless extended or terminated by either party.  The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office recently submitted a request for $45,000 in reimbursement for activities that occurred between January and March 2026.  If approved, the money will offset the salary of the detective assigned to the task force. 

For decades, the District Attorney’s Office communicated and shared information with ICE when the District Attorney’s Office had an active criminal prosecution against an illegal alien.  The only difference now is that we have formalized this communication and partnership with the signing of the 287(g) and more notably, the stark and noticeable increase in the number of crimes committed by illegal aliens. This has led to weekly and sometimes daily communications with ICE. 

The District Attorney’s Office began noticing a sharp increase in the number of crimes committed by illegal aliens in June 2024.  It is estimated that 2026 alone will result in more than one hundred criminal dockets from persons who have illegally entered the United States.  Some of the crimes committed range from retail thefts, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, to large scale financial scams, sexual assault, rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of a child and stalking.