Erie Pa. - Erie Co. Council revisits contract allowing ICE detainees in Erie Co. Prison

The Erie County Council is considering a new ordinance that could end a decades-old agreement to house federal detainees at the Erie County Prison. The proposal had its first reading Tuesday night during a meeting where residents filled the room to discuss the county’s relationship with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Public comments during the meeting lasted for one and a half hours, with the room reaching standing-room capacity. Almost all of those in attendance urged the council to terminate the contract. Many speakers argued that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a different organization now than it was when the agreement was first established, characterizing current federal immigration policy as broken.

Dave Dennis was among the community members who spoke at the meeting to advocate for the end of the federal partnership. “The message here from the people and the community was very, very clear to m,e” Dennis said. “We don’t want ICE. We don’t want to participate with it. I’m hoping this council will listen to the people and listen to who spoke.”

Councilman Wertz introduced the ordinance as a way to distance the county from federal enforcement actions. “This ordinance is one attempt to try to remove Erie County from participating in what we see as rather unconstitutional and immoral actions by the federal government,” Wertz said.


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