Juniata County Sheriff’s Office collaborates with ICE

To the Editor:

The Juniata County Sheriff’s Office would like to formally address the public, specifically on the recently approved agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 287(g) program allows ICE — through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties — to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.

The United States has a proud history of welcoming immigrants who have made the decision to make this great nation their home.

The Juniata County Sheriff’s Office welcomes and supports legal immigrants here working and contributing to the betterment of society enjoying the right to liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Then there are those who fail to make lawful entry. Persons being rejected from lawful entry or entering illegally among these are the following: drug smuggling, terrorist or activity linked to terrorism, human trafficking, persons with criminal convictions for serious crimes (murder, rape, violent crime, etc.) These will be the concentration of the efforts for removal.

Here are some statistics from 2023, and they speak for themselves. Enforcement and Removal Operations ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with a criminal history, including more than 33,209 charges or convictions for assault, 7,520 for weapons offenses, 1,713 for homicide-related offenses, and 1,655 for kidnapping.

Removals also included 3,406 known or suspected gang members, 139 known or suspected terrorists, seven human rights violators, and 108 foreign fugitives wanted by their governments for crimes including homicide, rape, terrorism and kidnapping.

The Juniata County Sheriff’s Office as any law enforcement agency must uphold constitutional rights for all. The Juniata County Sheriff’s Office views every person present here with the right to be here until information and facts lead us to believe otherwise.

I’ve heard the term racial profiling thrown around by persons clouding and construing this topic. Let me be clear, this is a matter of law which threatens the very core of our nation; race is not a contributing factor.

No person is judged, stopped or questioned based on race. Individuals are all treated equally under the eyes of the law.

As far as the Sheriff’s Office budget is concerned, it is less than it was five years ago, and I do not anticipate a fluctuation in the future.

Persons angry with the tax raises and reassessments should look to the Juniata County Commissioners and ask where has it all gone.

I, Sheriff Stimeling, love this county and stand by my decision to work with ICE. GOD bless America.

Sheriff Joshua L. Stimeling

Mifflintown