ICE DISAGREEMENT AT WESTMORELAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Westmoreland County Sheriff James Albert said during yesterday’s County Commissioners meeting that he will deploy his deputies to protect US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and provide crowd control for operations in the county, despite claims from commissioners that the agreement he signed last year was invalid.  Albert and Commissioner Ted Kopas exchanged emails this week affirming their divergent positions related to the sheriff’s office’s potential involvement with immigration agents.  Kopas claimed the sheriff’s agreement with ICE is invalid; Albert responded that he believed it was legal.  Commissioners have taken the position that Albert has no legal authority to sign contracts with outside agencies. Only commissioners can approve such agreements following a public vote, rendering the nonmonetary deal the sheriff signed last September invalid.