Mount Joy Borough Weighs ICE Partnership Amid Statewide Concerns

Pennsylvania officials prepare for potential ICE raids as community debates immigration enforcement agreement.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 9:47am

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Officials in Mount Joy Borough, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, have approved a partnership agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would allow local police to assist with federal immigration enforcement. The decision has sparked concerns among residents, leading the borough to review the agreement further. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has warned that Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster are potential targets for ICE raids, and has vowed to take legal action to protect the state's residents.

Why it matters

The proposed ICE partnership in Mount Joy Borough is part of a broader debate over immigration enforcement in Pennsylvania, with the state's governor and other officials preparing for potential ICE raids in several communities. The decision highlights the ongoing tensions between federal immigration policies and local community concerns.

The details

Mount Joy Borough council members approved the ICE partnership agreement in a 7-2 vote earlier this month, allowing local police to be trained to perform certain immigration functions under federal law. However, after resident complaints, the borough is now reviewing the agreement, with officials stating that officers would only assist with criminal warrants, not general immigration enforcement.

  • On January 5, 2026, Mount Joy Borough council members approved the ICE partnership agreement.
  • On January 27, 2026, borough officials told residents they are still reviewing the partnership agreement.

The players

Josh Shapiro

The Governor of Pennsylvania, who has warned that Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster are potential targets for ICE raids and has vowed to take legal action to protect the state's residents.

John Fetterman

A Pennsylvania Senator who has issued statements calling for an end to the Minneapolis operation and the firing of the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Dave McCormick

A Pennsylvania Senator who has called for a "full investigation" after the death of Alex Pretti, saying he supports ICE but a full investigation is necessary to gather all the facts.

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What they’re saying

“We've been planning for this. We understand that this is a risk, maybe not just in Philly, but Pittsburgh, Lancaster, other communities across Pennsylvania; we've heard similar rumors; wherever it comes, we'll be prepared. We'll be prepared in the community, we'll be prepared in the court of law. I'll remind you, as a former Attorney General, I know how to take this President to court and win, and even as Governor, I've taken him to court 19 times in his first 12 months in office. We've won every single time on behalf of the good people of Pennsylvania.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (The View)

“We've heard similar rumors; wherever it comes, we'll be prepared. We'll be prepared in the community, we'll be prepared in the court of law.”

— Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania (The View)

What’s next

The Mount Joy Borough council will continue reviewing the proposed ICE partnership agreement, with a focus on limiting the involvement of local police to only assisting with criminal warrants, not general immigration enforcement.

The takeaway

The debate over the ICE partnership in Mount Joy Borough reflects the broader tensions in Pennsylvania over immigration enforcement, with state officials preparing for potential ICE raids while also vowing to take legal action to protect residents. The outcome of this local decision could have wider implications for how communities in the state navigate the balance between federal immigration policies and local community concerns.