Earlier this month, the East Vincent Township Board of Supervisors voted to support a joint statement issued by the Chester County District Attorney and the Chester County Police Chiefs Association, aligning the township with a countywide message addressing immigration enforcement, police use of force, and public safety.
Supervisor Craig Damon introduced the motion at the board's March 3 meeting. Before the vote, supervisors agreed to have the statement read aloud and entered into the public record.
The statement — released in early February — outlines three key points in response to community concerns following two fatal shootings in Minnesota in January. One involved Renée Good, who was shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and the other involved Alex Pretti, who was killed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers. Both incidents drew national attention and sparked broader questions about federal immigration enforcement and use of force.
The statement outlines three key points:
- Chester County law enforcement does not enforce civil immigration orders and has no agreements with federal immigration authorities under the 287(g) program
- Major use-of-force incidents are investigated independently by county detectives in coordination with local departments
- Law enforcement is committed to "protecting the public, regardless of their immigration status," while upholding constitutional rights such as free speech and peaceful protest
“Simply put, Chester County law enforcement is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that Chester County remains a safe and prosperous community,” the statement reads.
The full statement, signed by Chester County District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe and Chester County Police Chiefs Association President Michael P. Carroll, can be found here.
After the statement was read, the board opened the floor for discussion and received no comments from supervisors. The motion was then put to a vote and approved unanimously.
