This was a crazy turn of events.
A heated political dispute is unfolding in eastern Pennsylvania after local county officials moved to remove Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from county-owned office space — a move critics say puts ideology ahead of public safety.
Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, a Republican representing a competitive Pennsylvania district, is pushing back forcefully against Lehigh County leaders who are demanding that ICE vacate its offices. Mackenzie argues the decision undermines federal law enforcement operations that have already helped remove criminal illegal immigrants from the region.
According to Mackenzie, ICE agents operating in the county have assisted in arrests involving individuals convicted of serious offenses, including theft, violent crimes, and indecent assault involving a minor. He warned that forcing ICE out of county facilities could disrupt active investigations and make local communities less safe.
“Politics should never interfere with law enforcement doing its job,” Mackenzie said, accusing county officials of abandoning good-faith negotiations with Homeland Security Investigations while attacking an agency tasked with stopping human trafficking and other major criminal threats. He added that the dispute appears driven more by ideology than finances.
The controversy escalated Thursday when Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley and newly elected County Executive Josh Siegel held a public news conference calling for ICE to be removed from county property. Siegel referred to the agency’s alleged unpaid rent as “blood money” and questioned whether the county should continue cooperating with federal immigration authorities at all.
County officials claim the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) owes approximately $115,000 in back rent and allege DHS occupied county-owned space for more than three years without a finalized lease. They are demanding immediate payment and an end to all negotiations with DHS.
Pinsley went further, arguing that ICE’s presence creates fear rather than safety and suggesting the county should “deport ICE” from its facilities. He also said county administrators were instructed to notify Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that federal agents should leave the building.
Siegel echoed those remarks in local media interviews, stating that ICE’s continued presence threatens public trust. He confirmed the county plans to issue a formal eviction notice, giving the agency 30 days to vacate.
Mackenzie sharply criticized the move, warning against what he described as radical local officials interfering with federal efforts to apprehend traffickers, fraudsters, and repeat offenders. He labeled the county leadership’s actions as politically motivated and dangerous.
Not all local officials support the eviction effort. Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said DHS has been a valuable partner in human trafficking investigations and offered to personally cover the agency’s rent using funds collected through drug-related asset forfeitures in order to preserve the partnership.
Holihan suggested the press conference was designed more to generate headlines than to address public safety concerns.
Pinsley responded by thanking the district attorney for his work but maintained that ICE does not need to operate from county-owned buildings, especially amid unresolved payment disputes.
The standoff highlights a broader national divide between progressive local governments and federal immigration enforcement, as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to prioritize border security and stricter immigration enforcement policies.
Fox News Digital reported that requests for comment were sent to Lehigh County officials, local Republican leaders, and the Department of Homeland Security.
