Beitler on ICE: Two Things Can Be True

When seeking truth, two things can be true at the same time.

Yes, folks can and should have real concerns about how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates in American cities right now. And yes, it can still be a mistake to cut off a successful relationship between county government and federal law enforcement that helped combat human trafficking and other serious crimes in Lehigh County.

I share concerns about due process, reduced training and recruitment standards, and a sense that enforcement is not focused on those with serious criminal records. Recent reporting shows training for new Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers has been shortened, with recruits completing less instruction than in the past and many struggling with basic standards or being placed into field roles before full training was finished. Law enforcement training experts outside the agency have raised questions about preparedness and use of force protocols. I think most agree law enforcement should be held to the highest standards. These issues deserve serious discussion and stronger policies to protect civil rights, including the rights of American citizens who could be falsely accused. But turning a lease decision into a claim that all cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security harmfully oversimplifies a complex picture.

What also is true is that intergovernmental partnerships with DHS have helped our local community confront the brutal reality of human trafficking, a serious and ongoing problem in our region that preys on vulnerable people and destroys lives. Our geography makes us particularly vulnerable. The question should be about local realities. Reality is, there is no local evidence that HSI here has operated outside its criminal investigative function from this county office. What got lost in the politics is the real work happening here at home. The human trafficking task force in Lehigh County, created under an agreement unanimously approved by a bipartisan board, brought together local law enforcement, medical professionals, social service providers and federal investigators to target traffickers while supporting survivors. After a very political press event led to a rushed decision to evict the investigators, I heard directly from survivors, nurses, advocates and local law enforcement about how critical the partnership has been. Real cases and real lives were protected because agencies worked together.

Counties are not immigration policy makers. We are service providers. Our job is to protect residents, support victims and keep our communities safe. That means setting clear local boundaries on how county resources are used, being transparent with the public and, when needed, holding partners accountable. It does not mean dismantling partnerships that work because national politics are heated. When we shift into politics over objectivity we weaken our ability to focus on the core responsibilities our residents rely on us to deliver.

It’s important to understand. DHS includes many different functions. For example, airport security through TSA. We would certainly not suggest evicting TSA from LVIA over immigration policy disputes. The same principle of distinguishing roles should apply to all federal partnerships. Put yourself in the shoes of a victim of trafficking and ask what makes you safer, political theater or maintaining real investigative resources?

Leadership should not make unilateral decisions without engaging stakeholders. Unfortunately, I believe that happened here. Conversely, I’ve learned through conversations with local service providers that victims do not report crimes directly to federal agencies. They come through hospitals, shelters, advocates and local police first. Federal partners are brought in later when cases require broader investigative tools that local agencies alone do not have. My perspective comes from listening to the people who work closest to victims and who see the consequences of hasty decisions in real time. The consistent theme I heard was not about politics, but about making sure survivors continue to have safe entry points and that frontline workers have access to the tools needed to stop traffickers. Claims that victims will not seek help because of federal perception overlook how victims actually enter the system and how investigations work in practice.

To the survivors who have reached out, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, nonprofit leaders I’ve spoken with, and others now working with one less important tool, I am sincerely sorry that county leadership has failed you.

Two things can be true at once. Effective local governance should not be about headlines or national political battles. Here at home? It should be about objectivity. Yes, we can and should demand accountability, insist on due process and set firm local guardrails. But we can do this without weakening known partnerships that protect victims of trafficking and other serious crimes. We should set limits without breaking the tools that protect the most vulnerable. We should talk to stakeholders before holding press conferences. Ending this partnership does not change federal immigration policy, but it does change whether local investigators, medical providers and survivor advocates have access to the tools they were using to go after traffickers. That is what responsible local government looks like, and it requires an independent, nonpartisan, fact driven perspective focused on outcomes, not party lines.

Ron Beitler is an Independent Lehigh County Commissioner.

ICE Is Going Too Far

When he campaigned for election, Donald Trump did his best to paint a dark image of a country suffering an invasion at the hands of millions of foreign criminals and terrorists. He did what he does best - he pandered to our darker natures. It is one thing to say that an immigrant with a serious criminal record should be deported. Most of us would agree.  But Trump went further, dehumanizing our immigrants, even those here legally, as pet-eating "animals". Now that he's President, Trump has gone after our immigrant population with the same gusto that Hitler displayed in going after Jews. Hitler used brown-shirted SA (Sturmabteilung) thugs while Trump has designated mask-wearing ICE agents. As of last week, ICE had 66,000 people in detention camps, the most it has ever held in a single week.  But how many of these detainees are actually pet-eating cartel members?  According to CATO, which is no left-leaning think tank, about 7% of detainees are violent criminals. 65% had no convictions. Over 90% had no serious criminal convictions. In fact, as of October 16, ProPublica reports that at least 170 US citizens have been detained. 

While a majority of American voters certainly supported a crackdown on illegal immigration and the deportation of illegal violent criminals, I doubt they expected the tactics being used by ICE to target just about anyone who looks a little different. And now it has happened in my own family.

A member of my family is currently dabbling in real estate. He buys small properties in Philly and then rehabs them and wither rents them out or sells them. He found a fellow named Eduardo to do most of the remodeling work for him. Eduardo spends a lot of his time going to local Home Depots and other hardware stores to get the materials he needs. Apparently, ICE is focusing on Home Depots and construction sites to conduct its sweeps because Eduardo was stopped after visiting one last week. 

He is a lawful permanent resident with no criminal record. He is just a hard worker. He was asked to produce his papers, which he does not carry on his person. He explained he could get them, but ICE just detained him.

That was on Monday of last week.

In the meantime, the real estate tycoon in my family had texted Eduardo about the cabinets and flooring on one of his projects. 

Fortunately, ICE did allow Eduardo to contact his wife. She got him a lawyer, and he was released from detention on Friday. 

He returned to work that day.

Now I know many of you voted for Trump. But I doubt you expected this overkill which, like it or not, is eerily similar to the tactics used by Hitler. 

I am not calling him Hitler, but I am making very clear that we are on a dangerous path. I suspect this ICE over-reach, which goes far beyond what we expect of  our country, played a part in last week's Democratic victory. It's not that Democrats are being embraced so much as a rejection of Trump's excesses.  

Immigration Enforcement at LC Courthouse

Ron Beitler is a Lehigh County Comm'r. He's a Republican, by the way. He recently posted about how Lehigh County handles immigration enforcement. I'm going to share what he has said:

𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:

First background.

Lehigh County Commissioners do not set immigration policy, including anything involving ICE. That is the Federal government. For Lehigh County residents, that means Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, Senator John Fetterman, and Senator Dave McCormick contribute to those decisions.

Federal immigration policy intersects with Lehigh County in two areas:

• Lehigh County Jail

• Lehigh County Courthouses — Main and Historic

-The Courthouse is a public facility that contains both private and public areas.

This post deals with the Courthouses. Courthouse policies, protocols and operations are set exclusively by the President Judge in consultation with the District Attorney and County Sheriff. This is due to provisions of the State Constitution establishing an independent judiciary.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀:

• ICE agents CAN legally make arrests in the Courthouse under applicable federal law — but only do so for people in the facility for criminal, not civil, matters.

• ICE agents do NOT wear masks in the Courthouse.

• ICE agents DO show identification.

• The County does NOT provide ICE with holding facilities in the Courthouses.

Court policy is designed to keep the Courthouse safe for hundreds of employees and visitors who use the facility daily. The President Judge and Sheriff are responsible for that safety. Specific security decisions and practices remain confidential for obvious reasons. Safety is the primary concern.

Per federal law, as a law enforcement agency, ICE is permitted to take individuals into custody in a manner laid out by federal law. (That law is NOT our jurisdiction)

**𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲** The President Judge, DA and Sheriff do not treat law enforcement agencies in the Courthouse differently based on jurisdiction. This means county and out-of-county municipal police, other county law enforcement (such as county detectives), out-of-county sheriffs, State Police, or federal agencies (such as the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Homeland Security, and ICE) are all treated the same.

𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴:

a. What is legal, based on applicable statutes and caselaw?

b. What is safe, with an emphasis on prevention being the best approach to ensure safety?

c. What manages risk most effectively?

I agree with this criteria.

Sheriff Hanna takes his responsibility to protect nearly 1000 employees and visitors each day very seriously. It’s a duty he will not compromise on. I completely agree.

Commissioner Antonio Pineda and I independently met with the President Judge, District Attorney, Sheriff and Court Administration to fact-find — to clearly understand what, if any, role we have, to be abel to dispel any bad information out there and lastly to establish a factual starting point for any conversations other Commissioners may attempt to move forward.

Team Trump Tags Lehigh and NorCo as "Sanctuary" Counties

Late yesterday, Homeland Security listed over 500 counties, cities and states it considers "sanctuary" jurisdictions. Among the 11 Pa. counties included are NorCo and Lehigh. Five Pa cities (Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College and York) are also included. 

A memo that accompanies this listing includes the following explanation: 

Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens requires that a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions) be published. Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.

The list below was created to identify sanctuary jurisdictions, which are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions, and legal protections for illegal aliens.

Each jurisdiction listed will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.

Note that the list can be reviewed and changed at any time and will be updated regularly. No one should act on this information without conducting their own evaluation of the information.

U.S. Rep Ryan Mackenzie (Pa.-7), at a Homeland Security Committee hearing on May 14, said that sanctuary counties, which presumably includes two of the counties he represents, "are more focused on defending these violent criminals from deportation than they are in protecting American citizens in our local communities." He criticized NorCo Executive Lamont McClure's executive order, "which bans ICE from arresting illegal immigrants when they're going through processing for a separate crime. And what this means in practice is that when ICE wants to go arrest a violent member of Tren de Agua or a domestic abuser who is going through the processing in our local community, they cannot go inside that courthouse and actually arrest that person. They have to stake out the courthouse, outside, taking up hours of resources from law enforcement, potentially leaving our community more vulnerable if that person were to go out a different exit of the courthouse and escape into our local community, they would be free to reign terror all across our beautiful Lehigh Valley."

Mackenzie's characterization of Northampton County's policy, enacted after an ICE officer arrested an undocumented immigrant walking out of a courtroom in 2020, is completely disingenuous. (You can read it here). Call this person an illegal alien if that makes you feel better. What happened is that an out-of uniform ICE officer, clad in jeans and a "Pro God Pro Gun Protected" T-shirt, conducted a warrantless arrest of an undocumented immigrant inside the courthouse. It made no difference that this person was married to an American citizen, gainfully employed and a licensed driver who has paid his taxes for the past 10 years. It made no difference that he was just inches away from getting his green card. He was carted away in handcuffs, destination unknown. 

The Executive Order that McClure issued in no way bans ICE from entering the courthouse. That's sheer nonsense. What his order does provide is that, after a judge relinquishes jurisdiction, the county will hold an alleged illegal for up to 48 hours if a detainer has been issued. During that time, ICE can seek a warrant from a federal judge, which is fairly easy to obtain. 

The reason for seeking a warrant is because that's what's Lehigh County found out the hard way. Galzara, a US citizen, was improperly held in Lehigh's jail because of an immigration detainer that ICE had incorrectly lodged. The Third Circuit (one stop below the Supremes) ruled that "immigration detainers do not and cannot compel a state or local law enforcement agency to detain suspected aliens subject to removal." An ICE detainer is nothing more than a "request." Northampton County will honor an ICE detainer by holding a suspected illegal for 48 hours, but wants to see a warrant before handing him over to ICE, 

Mackenzie talks about protecting American citizens but fails to point out that this includes protecting taxpayers from paying out huge settlements. ICE does tend to have a large number of cowboys who have been detaining US citizens simply because they speak Spanish. Why should NorCo or Lehigh County taxpayers pay for ICE stupidity?

Now ICE can refuse to get a warrant and just hang around the jail when an undocumented immigrant is released. But that's because ICE is wasting manpower, not the county. All ICE has to do is obtain a warrant from a neutral judge who will make sure they are actually arresting someone who is here illegally and not because he speaks another language. 

Mackenzie also complains that a defendant released from a jail can slip out a side exit. It's a jail, Ryan. There's only one way out. Sorry. 

Lehigh County denies it is a sanctuary county: 

"Lehigh County respects the dignity and basic humanity of every person within our borders, however, we strongly disagree with the position of some entities that our policies make us a sanctuary county. We do not shelter undocumented immigrants, nor do we interfere with any law enforcement agency or its efforts to identify and remove people who may be here unlawfully.

"Lehigh County cooperates with US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the fullest extent legally possible, in compliance with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision in Galarza v. Szalczyk, 745 F.3d 634 (2014). We notify ICE, if possible, any time an undocumented person is detained in the jail by other authorities, so that ICE may pursue the necessary steps to take the person into custody when the detainer is dissolved."

NorCo Exec Lamont McClure provided this response to seeing his county named as a sanctuary: 

"Northampton County acknowledges the Federal Government’s important responsibility to enforce our Nation’s Immigration laws. That is why we fully cooperate with I.C.E. consistent with the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions. We cooperate as we agree that undocumented persons who commit crimes should be deported. We honor I.C.E. Immigration detainers for up to 48 hours. (Well in excess of what most jurisdictions do.) 

"While I.C.E. is aware our policy requires a court order to remand an undocumented person into their custody, who has been otherwise freed by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, they routinely refuse to obtain constitutionally guaranteed process. Even so, we will inform I.C.E. of the date and time of the release of the undocumented person. We will even work with I.C.E. to release the undocumented person at its convenience. We do this even though it is clear that the law does not require local governments to assist the Federal Government in enforcing immigration laws. Northampton County’s inclusion on this list is nothing more than naked MAGA politics."

Panto's Remarks About Illegal Immigrants Taken Out of Context

At their February 12 meeting, Easton City Council took up a proposed welcoming city ordinance that was recently adopted in Allentown but rejected in Bethlehem. While the proposed ordinance still requires the city to comply with state and federal law, it bans the use of local personnel to assist in federal immigration enforcement. It does require a certifying city to shell out $12,000 to a nonprofit. Frankly, it strikes me as just the latest, and rather tone-deaf attempt at virtue signaling during a time in which voters have just elected a President who has vowed to deport undocumented immigrants who commit crimes. 

Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo warned against this proposal. While he said he was empathetic to the cause of helping people who have come to this country in search of a better life. His worry is that with these law-abiding immigrants, "there are also individuals who come here without that good intent." He suggested some would be here to commit crimes and hurt others, including citizens and law enforcement. He worries that "welcoming city" legislation would be used by criminal aliens who "fly under the radar." "Legislation like that can be a beacon for those individuals to come here."  He also observed that his officers could face legal consequences if the ordinance were unintentionally violated. 

Chief Scalzo went on to say that Easton has a long history of supporting immigrants and that Mayor Sal Panto himself just spoke last year in support of DREAMERs. Panto also promoted a city resolution calling on the state to provide driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants. 

In response to questions from Council member Taiba Sultana, who said that a welcoming city just embraces diversity, he maintained that there are individuals who "will see that and ... They're going to go to those places where they feel like they can fly under the radar and then our officers are the ones left dealing with those individuals." Chief Scalzo conceded that most immigrants are law-abiding, but "we are seeing in our communities ... the Tren de Aragua gang and those types of elements get mixed into all of this. For sure that they do and they're looking for places where they can fly under that radar."

That was all Mayor Panto, who has used the mantra "clean and safe" since he was first elected to office, needed to hear. "I can't stand that we're here trying to do an ordinance to protect illegals. These people commit crimes. We don't want crime in our city. If you vote for this ordinance you are voting to have crime in your city."

That was that. 

Except it wasn't. Sultana used Panto's remarks to complain, in a letter to The Morning Call, that Panto's remarks about immigrants were hurtful and xenophobic. Armando Moritz-Chapelliquen, a Wilson Borough activist, said Panto's reaction was "blatantly racist" in a Morning Call op-ed. 

While I'll agree that Panto was inartful in the way he expressed himself (he was angry), he was taken out of context by both Sultana and Moritz-Chapelliquen. When he said he was opposed to illegals, it was in response to Chief Scalzo's warning about illegals who commit crimes. He has a good record of supporting immigrants who may have come here illegally but are otherwise productive members of society. 

Local government should focus on local government, not the flavor of the day. 

Trump Thankfully Relaxes Separation Policy

I tend to write slowly when it's about something like yesterday's summit between Northampton County Council and the county's General Purpose Authority. So it actually took me about seven or eight hours for the story you see below. Because I was engrossed in county government, I had very little time to read about Donald Trump's sudden reversal on his barbaric separation policy. I know the criticism continues, but I'm thankful he changed course. I doubt morality had much to do with his decision. He was obviously concerned this might have an adverse impact on the midterm elections. But for whatever reason, I'm glad that no one is going to separate children from their parents over an illegal entry.

Allentown Diocese Bishops Condemns Trump's "Separation" Policy

In previous posts, I have listed a number of the religious leaders who have condemned Trump's recent decision to rip children away from their parents at the border. You can now add my Bishop to the list. The Most Rev. Alfred A Schlert, who delivered both the Invocation and Benediction at induction of a first-generation Lebanese American as Northampton County president Judge yesterday, has released this statement:

Reasonable people may disagree over the best ways to control illegal immigration to the United States.

Bishop Schlert at the Baccalaureate Mass for ACCHS
late last month. 

It is hard to disagree, however, with the growing chorus of voices from both sides of the political aisle, and from religious leaders of many faiths, that we should not be solving this problem by taking children from their parents at the border.

United States immigration officials are separating children from their families under a policy in which all cases of illegal entry are referred for criminal prosecution. Children are not allowed to accompany their parents to jail, so they are separated and held in detention facilities.

The nation’s Catholic Bishops have condemned using the separation of families as a way to deter illegal immigration. Bishops from around the country have called this practice immoral, cruel, unjust, ineffective and contrary to human decency. The forcible separation of children from their families is in direct violation of Catholic beliefs and values.

This is not a debate about whether our borders should be secure. They should be, and my brother Bishops and I believe that our government’s leaders should take all reasonable steps to keep them that way.

Rather, I would submit that this is a debate about human dignity, about doing the right thing for innocent children, about the sanctity of the family, and about the integrity of the moral compass of our country and its people.

Remember that ours is a nation of immigrants. Few among us would be here if our parents or grandparents or great-grandparents were not afforded the chance to come to this land of opportunity in search of a better life, or to escape persecution.

The Catholic Church, too, is built on a foundation of immigration. We have a long history of embracing immigrants, migrants, refugees and others in need, and proving them with pastoral care and a sense of community and belonging. Our Church has responded to Christ’s call to “welcome the stranger among us.”  We are taught to treat the newcomer as we would treat Jesus Christ himself, were He to arrive at our nation’s border in search of a better life.

The news reports from our Southwestern border are heartbreaking. Imagine how these children must feel, not knowing when or if they will see their parents again. I pray that our nation’s leaders will find a way to care for our national interest on illegal immigration while also treating all people with the compassion and respect they deserve as human beings.

Meanwhile, as we work to find a just and humane solution to the separation crisis, we also must continue to seek effective resolution of other pressing immigration issues: the granting of political asylum for those fleeing domestic and gang-related violence; the search for a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants, called Dreamers; the tragedy of eliminating Temporary Protected Status for immigrants from certain countries, many of whom have been here for years and are productive members of our society; and the plight of Christians fleeing persecution in the Middle East.

Please join me in praying for successful resolutions, and in praying that all of us, regardless of political affiliation, can open our hearts and participate in meaningful and civil public discourse on these issues.

**********
People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. - Mark 10:13-16

A Special Place in Hell

Authoritarian Donald Trump tweets all kinds of personal insults at perceived enemies. We've become habituated to this diminution of his office. Now, administration officials are sinking to that same level. Over the weekend, trade adviser Peter Navarro blasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on network TV, claiming there's a "special place in hell for him." Navarro, who has since apologized for his childish remark, was miffed at the time that  made Trump look weak on the eve of a historic summit with North Korean dictator Jim Jong Un.  But still I agree with Dante that there are indeed special places in Hell. I'd stick Trudeau in there for at least a day or two as a way of saying thanks for Justin Bieber. But Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions have condemned themselves to Lucifer's Lair for a much graver sin.

Both of these so-called leaders have adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards immigrants who enter this country without the proper papers, and have separated an estimated 500 children from their parents thus far. In one instance, federal authorities ripped a child from her mother as she was being breastfed. While I agree that people should be discouraged from entering this count illegally, this sanction is cruel and heartless.

Mahatma Ghandi once said that "[a] nation's greatness is judged by how it treats its weakest members." Based on what is happening at the border, it's safe to say that Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions are hardly making America Great Again. They are instead poster boys for the Ugly American.

US Senator Jeff Merkley (D. Oregon) has actually claimed that children were caged at at least one facility. While I have a hard time believing that federal officials could be so monstrous, The Washington Post confirms that this has occurred, at least temporarily. Merkley was denied access at a second facility, where all the windows were blacked out.

Forcibly separating these children from their parents and stuffing them in cages with other children who speak no English has to be traumatic. I'd call it torture.

Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, the archbishop of Boston, believes in civil authority, but "I cannot be silent when our country’s immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents, and terrorizes children. The harmful and unjust policy of separating children from their parents must be ended." Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, echoes those sentiments. “Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral,” he said.

"I think it’s disgraceful, it’s terrible to see families ripped apart and I don’t support that one bit,” says Rev. Franklin Graham, who is otherwise a Trump supporter and son of evangelical preacher Bill Graham.

Updated Saturday, 6/16/18, 1 PM: The LA Times has a very detailed story about exactly what is happening. In tis stories, homeland officials deny that that separated an infant who was breastfeeding, whie lawyers for the mother continue toinsist that is what has happened. It does appear that deceptive means are used to effect the separation, such as excuses that the child is being taken away for a bath, although again, homeland officials deny deception. the practice of separating children from their parents was initiated by Trump,and through May 31, a total of 1,995 children have been separated. Health and Human Services is currently housing over 11,000 children at 100 shelters in 17 states, and have actually created a soft shelter,derided as a tent city, for some undocumented minors. Reporters have been given a tour at one shleter, a former Walmart, but were allowed no interaction with the kids. At another facility, a caseworker quit and has claimed conditions are bad and have led to runaways and attempted suicide.

Prominent Immigration Attorney Ray Lahoud to Vote For Morganelli

Ray Lahoud is one of Northampton County's finest  and a proud product of Easton Lebanese heritage. He distinguished himself at Lehigh and Georgetown Law School, and had a bright career ahead of him on Wall Street. Instead, he stayed and began practicing immigration law. His practice was even featured on NBC News.

Raymond explains below why he's voting fir John Morganelli.

"As you know, I am an immigration attorney. And, yes, I will be voting for John Morganelli, as I am sincere in the belief that voting is not a one-issue decision. Candidates are not about one issue. There is more to voting than one issue. A Democrat need not be far left to be a Democrat. A Republican need not be far right to be a Republican. Differences are good between the parties and within the parties. John Morganelli is more than immigration. But, there is more to John Morganelli on immigration and I believe his record is not as accurate as others are portraying. In my practice as an Immigration Attorney, I have worked with the District Attorney countless times on immigration specific matters, particularly within the context of victims of crime who are undocumented. Indeed, he may have a tough position on the discretionary ARD program for those charged with a DUI, who, because of their lack of documentation, are prohibited by the Commonwealth to drive with or without alcohol (is it possible that the the precondition to ARD when charged with a DUI is not lawful status, but lawful driving privileges when arrested?). ARD is just one fact pattern.... one issue. Here is another immigration issue: each year, tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants are victims of brutal crimes, such as rape, domestic violence, human trafficking, and horrendous child exploitation and abuse. The perpetrators are not limited to others who are undocumented; they are of every "status." Often, the victim's undocumented "status" itself becomes a tool of further victimization. Northampton County is not immune from this awful problem. In fact, crimes of this sort are growing exponentially. The local papers do not publicize the "status" of the victim. Time and again, John Morganelli has certified U-Visa for these victims--giving them a path to legal status in the United States. Time and again, he has gone to bat for them and did what he could to protect them from deportation. Time and again, he has protected these victims from being picked up and deported after their perpetrator reports the victim's undocumented status to immigration authorities. Time and again, he has gone beyond U-visa certifications and taken affirmative steps to help undocumented victims of crime not only secure justice, but secure lawful status and a home in Northampton County. I recall an instance in which it was the District Attorney's certification and persistence that protected a victim from deportation. When faced with aggravation from immigration and its bureaucracy during the process, John persisted, as the deportation was to a country where the very perpetrator was deported to only months before...and was waiting. Again, this is just one issue. One issue within an issue. Put simply, there is more to John Morganelli on immigration and there is more to John Morganelli than immigration. This is a good thing, as we live in a world of many issues."

Barack Obama: "This is About Decency"

Former President Barack Obama has spoken  in defense of the dreamers:

Immigration can be a controversial topic. We all want safe, secure borders and a dynamic economy, and people of goodwill can have legitimate disagreements about how to fix our immigration system so that everybody plays by the rules.

But that’s not what the action that the White House took today is about. This is about young people who grew up in America – kids who study in our schools, young adults who are starting careers, patriots who pledge allegiance to our flag. These Dreamers are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper. They were brought to this country by their parents, sometimes even as infants. They may not know a country besides ours. They may not even know a language besides English. They often have no idea they’re undocumented until they apply for a job, or college, or a driver’s license.

Over the years, politicians of both parties have worked together to write legislation that would have told these young people – our young people – that if your parents brought you here as a child, if you’ve been here a certain number of years, and if you’re willing to go to college or serve in our military, then you’ll get a chance to stay and earn your citizenship. And for years while I was President, I asked Congress to send me such a bill.

That bill never came. And because it made no sense to expel talented, driven, patriotic young people from the only country they know solely because of the actions of their parents, my administration acted to lift the shadow of deportation from these young people, so that they could continue to contribute to our communities and our country. We did so based on the well-established legal principle of prosecutorial discretion, deployed by Democratic and Republican presidents alike, because our immigration enforcement agencies have limited resources, and it makes sense to focus those resources on those who come illegally to this country to do us harm. Deportations of criminals went up. Some 800,000 young people stepped forward, met rigorous requirements, and went through background checks. And America grew stronger as a result.

But today, that shadow has been cast over some of our best and brightest young people once again. To target these young people is wrong – because they have done nothing wrong. It is self-defeating – because they want to start new businesses, staff our labs, serve in our military, and otherwise contribute to the country we love. And it is cruel. What if our kid’s science teacher, or our friendly neighbor turns out to be a Dreamer? Where are we supposed to send her? To a country she doesn’t know or remember, with a language she may not even speak?

Let’s be clear: the action taken today isn’t required legally. It’s a political decision, and a moral question. Whatever concerns or complaints Americans may have about immigration in general, we shouldn’t threaten the future of this group of young people who are here through no fault of their own, who pose no threat, who are not taking away anything from the rest of us. They are that pitcher on our kid’s softball team, that first responder who helps out his community after a disaster, that cadet in ROTC who wants nothing more than to wear the uniform of the country that gave him a chance. Kicking them out won’t lower the unemployment rate, or lighten anyone’s taxes, or raise anybody’s wages.

It is precisely because this action is contrary to our spirit, and to common sense, that business leaders, faith leaders, economists, and Americans of all political stripes called on the administration not to do what it did today. And now that the White House has shifted its responsibility for these young people to Congress, it’s up to Members of Congress to protect these young people and our future. I’m heartened by those who’ve suggested that they should. And I join my voice with the majority of Americans who hope they step up and do it with a sense of moral urgency that matches the urgency these young people feel.

Ultimately, this is about basic decency. This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we’d want our own kids to be treated. It’s about who we are as a people – and who we want to be.

What makes us American is not a question of what we look like, or where our names come from, or the way we pray. What makes us American is our fidelity to a set of ideals – that all of us are created equal; that all of us deserve the chance to make of our lives what we will; that all of us share an obligation to stand up, speak out, and secure our most cherished values for the next generation. That’s how America has traveled this far. That’s how, if we keep at it, we will ultimately reach that more perfect union.

Ray Lahoud's Immigration Practice Featured on NBC News

As anyone who knows him will tell you, Ray Lahoud is one of Northampton County's finest and a proud product of Easton Lebanse heritage. His mom was widowed at an early age, so Ray technically had no father. In truth, he had hundreds in that close knit community. Ray distinguished himself at Lehigh and Georgetown Law School, where he excelled academically. This is a guy whose career path was Wall Street, just as it was for Judge Koury before him. Judge Koury returned to the community, and Lahoud never left.

Ray now practices immigration law at Baurkot and Baurkot.

A day in his life was recently featured on NBC News. John Morganelli did a cameo.

His sister Victoria is pretty famous, too. Her "toum," otherwise known as Lebanese garlic sauce, has been picked up by Whole Foods.

How Trump Can Fix His Travel Ban

Locally, an assortment if bigots and xenophobes at Molovinsky Tabernacle Choir has been trying its best to justify just about everything Trump does, even when he's dead wrong. That's pretty much what has been happening nationally, too. Instead of telling him that his assertions about voter fraud are demonstrably false, sycophant Stephen Miller cascaded upon the Sunday shows and pretty much made an idiot out of himself, repeating whoppers about dead people and noncitizens voting.

His supporters let him down and let the country down when they spout this nonsense. It is precisely this attitude that led to a poorly prepared travel ban that will even fail in the Supreme Court because it denied due process to legal permanent residents.

According to Politico,

If there is a single issue where the president feels his aides have let him down, it was the controversial executive order on immigration. The president has complained to at least one person about "how his people didn't give him good advice" on rolling out the travel ban and that he should have waited to sign it instead of "rushing it like they wanted me to." Trump has also wondered why he didn’t have a legal team in place to defend it from challenges.

He's absolutely right, for once. His inner circle actually kept numerous government agencies out of the loop.

A revised travel ban is his best option. Legally, he has nearly unfettered authority to deny refugee status. He went wrong when he attempted to interfere with the rights of legal permanent residents and others with lesser visa statuses. This can be corrected and will withstand judicial scrutiny.

Charlie Dent Wants Explanation For Six Expelled Syrian Christians

Charlie's letter says it all.

Dent Wants Details on Expulsion of Six Syrian Christians by BernieOHare on Scribd

Easton Rallies To Support Our Diversity

Xenophobia is nothing new. Fear of the different has been used as a tool to manipulate people for centuries. Ivan the Terrible did it. Stalin did it. We all know Hitler did it. And now it is Donald Trump's turn to manipulate the masses by playing on a fear of others. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I see this xenophobia in some old Easton and Palmer Township deeds.They impose restrictive covenants prohibiting future owners from selling to "colored persons" or Italians. I wonder if these people from a different time ever envisioned an Easton with an Italian Mayor, African American City Council VP and a Lebanese council member. How would they feel about seeing two Jewish State Representatives standing at their side?

Last night, before a large crowd that some estimated to be as high as 450 people, that's what happened. Easton's Italian Mayor Sal Panto stood with African American City Council member Ken Brown and Lebanese Council member Peter Melan. They were flanked by two Jewish State Representative, Bob Freeman and Mike Schlossberg. In their midst was ACLU Attorney Gary Asteak. He might be nominally Jewish but that's just his cover. He's actually from the planet Tralfamadore, where they make very nice hats. He stopped here once to take a leak and just stayed.

This odd assortment of people was itself the message. Our diversity is what makes us great already. Without it, we'd be pretty boring. Nobody from Tarlfamadore would ever visit.

"I am proud of our diversity, not afraid of it," said Mayor Panto.

This rally was a reaction to President Trump's Executive Order on Friday. On the surface, Trump claimed he just wants to make us safe. But he's really just trading on our fear.

Panto referred to his Italian heritage, noting it is a country well known for the mafia and criminals. He said it is "just crazy" to force every person of one ethnic background to suffer because of the actions of a very few.

Easton activist Laini Abraham said her family fled anti-Jewish pogroms in Russia. Christian Syrians are being beheaded by ISIS, and Trump has denied them refugee status. Does that make you feel better?

An Iranian doctor who was supposed to work on a cure for tuberculosis at Harvard Medical School was sent back. Do you feel safer?

An Iraqi translator moving his family to this country was forced to return to a people who hate him for working with Americans. Is this gratitude?

"It is unAmerican to send the oppressed back into the hands of the oppressor," said Freeman. He reminded everyone of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "Four Freedoms" speech, in which he advocated for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Instead of promoting freedom from fear, President Trump is a fear monger.According to Freeman, he has turned the bully pulpit into a "bully's pulpit."

In one piece of encouraging news, the Trump administration is allowing 872 refugees into this country despite the Executive Order.

Rally For Immigrants and Refugees Tonight at Easton Circle

Tonight, at 6:30 pm, there will be a candlelight vigil at Easton circle to support our immigrant and refugee neighbors. I'd love to hear from individuals affected by President Trump's executive order, issued Friday, (You can read it here). I have no idea why Mayor Sal Panto or Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg are speaking, but they are.

Who Does The President's Order Ban? - For the next 90 days, no immigration or visits will be permitted from these seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen. Residents there are also barred from seeking refugee status. For 120 days, the refugee program is suspended. For Syria, the ban on seeking refugee status is indefinite.

Green Card Holders Are OK - Green card holders are already legal permanent residents. Trump banned them, too, but the Department of Homeland Security finally backed away from that provision in the Executive Order on Sunday after two days of contradictions.

Administration Will Comply With Judicial Orders. - Though The New York Post has published ACLU reports that Customs officials are ignoring a judge's order halting deportation of foreign nationals who've already arrived, Homeland Security has vowed it will follow all judicial orders. This is extremely important to me because one of my chief concerns about Trump is that he would ignore the courts. Most of the Order should survive legal challenge, according to legal experts, although the language barring legal residents is on its face invalid.

It is Technically Not a Muslim Ban. - Immigration is still permitted from numerous Muslim majority nations. The seven nations selected were already under restrictions imposed during the Obama administration.

The Order was Incompetently Drafted. - Because Trump is apparently convinced he already knows how to do everything, he failed to have his order vetted in advance by lawyers at DHS, Justice Department, State Department, Department of Defense and National Security Council. The result is four legal challenges in one day and mass confusion..

It Punishes the Innocent. - Despite Trump's claim to be all about protecting us from terrorism, he is hurting innocent people. Trump tweets about the extermination of Syrian Christians by ISIS, and then bans them from seeking refuge.It is ridiculous.In the name of national security, he has deported a Syrian family on its way to Allentown, despite their months of preparation to join their relatives here. Local Trump lover Jamie Kelton insensitively snarks they should go to Canada after this family was shipped to Quatar.

It Diminishes us. - We are now isolationists, a country like Medieval Japan, where outsiders were unwelcome. This actually weakens our national security instead of strengthening it, something Japan learned the hard way when Commodore Matthew Perry paid them a visit in 1853. In addition,it will certainly be construed as a Muslim ban by people in Muslim countries.  

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