Danville, Pa. – On September 2, Mahoning Township police, acting under a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), conducted a series of traffic stops that resulted in the detention of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Police Chief Fred Dyroff said the stops were part of routine law‑enforcement activity and that officers transferred those identified as illegal immigrants to ICE custody.
Expanded cooperation with federal immigration authorities
The township entered its 287(g) agreement with ICE in April, granting designated officers limited authority to assist federal agents in immigration matters. Dyroff highlighted the “good working relationship” the department has built with an ICE processing center in Williamsport, comparing it to existing collaborations with agencies such as the FBI. “It isn’t the first time and it won’t be the last time,” he said, emphasizing the township’s commitment to enforcing immigration law.
Details of the September 2 operation
According to the police chief, Mahoning Township officers conducted multiple traffic stops for alleged violations. After determining that some occupants were illegal immigrants, the officers transferred them to ICE custody. Township Supervisor Chairman Bill Lynn added that the primary focus of the operation was on individuals who are in the country illegally and have criminal records.
Immigrant‑rights group disputes the police account
The Centre County Rapid Response Network, an immigrant‑rights organization, released a press statement on September 8 claiming that ICE agents, with assistance from Danville police, stopped workers leaving a construction site at Geisinger Medical Center and arrested at least 41 people. The group alleged that checkpoints were set up near highway entrances and that drones were used during the operation. It also said that some of those arrested were being held at the Clinton County Jail and that ICE returned to the site on September 8 to detain an additional individual.
The organization’s claims have not been independently verified, and its description of the operation differs from the information provided by local law‑enforcement officials.
Broader regional context
The September 2 arrests occur amid a regional expansion of 287(g) agreements. Dyroff noted that multiple municipalities in Columbia and Montour counties have also entered into similar agreements with ICE. The Centre County Rapid Response Network identified Danville Borough, the Montour County Sheriff’s Office, and Mahoning Township as participants in the program.
Under the 287(g) program, participating local agencies may assist federal immigration authorities in specified circumstances, a practice the immigrant‑rights group opposes, arguing it expands ICE’s reach into routine local policing. The group called on Pennsylvania officials to limit cooperation and data sharing with federal immigration authorities and urged municipalities to adopt policies restricting local participation in immigration enforcement.
Local impact and future outlook
The September 2 activity illustrates how immigration enforcement is being integrated into everyday law‑enforcement operations in the Danville area. As more local agencies adopt 287(g) agreements, residents can expect continued collaboration between local police and ICE, aimed at addressing illegal immigration while maintaining public safety.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
