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Busting immigration myths - facts about doing things the right way

Lancaster County immigration facts - local law enforcement and ICE

Immigration statistics and facts about deportation policies

Resources and references for immigration information

Busting Myths

Do you know how long it takes to do things "the right way"?

It is legal to seek asylum.

Many folks came here the "right way", and have seen their status go away in a few months. In the case of Haiti, the government decided that the country was safe enough for migrant returns. However, the Administration's own FAA has deemed Haiti too dangerous for commercial flights.

Right now (2025), the US is currently processing immigration claims from Mexico that were filed in 1999-2000.

"I'm okay with immigration as long as they do it the right way."

Two problems: Two of the folks caught in the Trump Admin's crosshairs did it the right way.

"Don't believe the hype that this is just about 'illegals'"

The means to prevent immigration of all kinds.

He is also denying visas to the types of international students who make American universities the envy of the world.

He also overturned legal status for over a million people who came and stayed legally.^1,2 Many spoke out against the dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela or escaped the inhumane treatment in Afghanistan or Haiti and are becoming illegal overnight. They are being asked to go back to danger.

On his first day in office, the President banned refugees from entering the country and canceled flights for folks who have been waiting years to escape danger zones like Congo, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Venezuela.^1,2

The Trump Administration is dismantling the American immigration system — not just cracking down on "border crossing" or "illegal immigration."

Lancaster County

Support for immigrants is even greater here in Lancaster County.

Lancaster is nicknamed the refugee capital of the country.¹¹

Welcoming spirit since the original persecuted groups - Mennonite and Amish communities.

Lancaster County has more undocumented farm workers than any County in PA. Our agriculture dominance comes on the back of undocumented workers (especially dairy and chicken plants).¹²

Farmers have asked for more options (work visas, and pathways to citizenship) but our politicians fail us.¹³

"Local Law Enforcement must work with ICE if asked."

There is a very narrow set of cases where local depts must work with ICE. In the vast majority of cases, however, there is NO requirement that they do so.

Some places like Lancaster City have passed ordinances for city staff and police NOT to work with ICE.¹⁴

The rationale: police believed that they had enough work without working for another agency. They also worried about victims of crime, witnesses and even perpetrators of crime not coming forward for fear that they would be sent to ICE.

However, several local police departments have made agreements that allow local police to transport ICE detainees, perform raids and do other aspects of immigration enforcement.

In the Neighborhood

These departments have made agreements with ICE:

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office Manheim Borough Quarryville Borough Northwest Regional

Facts & Statistics

Refugees, like Mr. Pacito*, had been waiting for over 14 years when his travel was suspended by the administration.⁵ And with a snap of his fingers, Trump has forbidden those refugees who did it the "right way."

He also allowed some 150 South African farmers to the USA as refugees. They don't meet any of the normal standards, nor vetting. One immigration official called it clear "immigration fraud."⁵

"Only dangerous criminals are being deported."

I think most of us want truly dangerous criminals out of the country.

BUT ... that is not the priority in the administration. Records show that as of August 2025, less than 30% of those currently detained by ICE have criminal convictions.⁶

*the Congolese plaintiff in a lawsuit against the president's abuse of power

ICE received a boost of 180 billion dollars in the One Big Beautiful Bill, making its budget larger than all other Federal law enforcement agencies combined. If ICE were a military, it would be the ninth best funded in the world.

"Undocumented Immigrants (UIs) are a strain on our economy"

The opposite is the case. UIs pay taxes and support our social safety net systems without receiving benefits.

Data from 2022 show that 42% of all agricultural workers are undocumented workers. Detention is a food security issue.⁷

"Americans don't want immigration."

Recent polling shows that nearly 80% of Americans said that immigration has a net positive impact.⁸

74% want Dreamers to have a pathway to legal residence.⁹

70% support refugees and asylum seekers as symbol of American greatness.¹⁰

Did You Know?

The policies of the Trump Administration leaves the government open to lawsuits. The group of prisoners released from CECOT prison in El Salvador have already filed suit against the government for their improper detainment.¹⁷

They allege that they faced tortured, physical, mental and sexual abuse, malnutrition and other mistreatment. Many of the men were detained under false pretenses and through clerical errors.

The federal government doesn't reimburse local law enforcement for the work. Our taxes pay for local police even if they are doing work for the Feds.

Many communities left this program when they saw how much it cost and how it created mistrust between police and community.

Several communities have paid tens of millions of dollars to settle lawsuits based on racial profiling and other Constitutional violations.¹⁶

Immigrants Have Rights

The Constitution guarantees certain basic rights to all who are within the US, regardless of their immigration status.

Coming Next

In the next issue, we'll discuss what to do if you are stopped by ICE.

Visit: lancastericedispenser.com

Resources

"Trump Administration Executive Orders," Refugee Council USA. Continually updated.
rcusa.org/policy-center/tracking-trump-administration-executive-orders/
"Trump Administration Cancels Flights for Refugees Already Approved for Travel," New York Times. 2025.
nytimes.com
"ICE Expands Student Deportation Powers," Inside Higher Ed. 2025.
insidehighered.com
"International Student Visas Revoked," Inside Higher Ed. Continually updated.
insidehighered.com
"First Africans arrive in U.S. under radically redrawn refugee program," NPR. 2025.
npr.org
TRACImmigration. Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Continually updated.
tracreports.syr.edu
"Legal status of hired crop farmworkers, fiscal 1991-2022," USDA Economic Research Service. 2024.
ers.usda.gov
"Surge in U.S. Concern About Immigration Has Abated," Gallup News. 2025.
news.gallup.com
"Americans Want the Immigration Bill Congress Won't Pass, WSJ Poll Shows," Wall Street Journal. 2024.
wsj.com
"A Strong Majority of Americans Support the U.S. Refugee Program, Especially When They Know Someone Who Is a Refugee," Data for Progress. 2023.
dataforprogress.org
"Lancaster, Pennsylvania: America's refugee capital," BBC News. 2017.
bbc.com
"Fast Facts on the Role of Foreign-Born Workers in the Hired Farmworker Labor Force," Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. 2019.
"Why Farmworker Legalization Failed," The Nation. 2023.
thenation.com
"Lancaster City Council votes to end cooperation with ICE in most cases," WGAL. 2024.
wgal.com
"Amish Mafia constable found guilty of using emergency lights around parade," LNP - LancasterOnline. 2024.
"Justice Department Reaches Settlement in Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Maricopa County, Arizona, and Maricopa County Sheriff," U.S. Department of Justice. 2015.
justice.gov
"In 'administrative error' sent a Maryland man to an El Salvador prison, ICE says," AP News. 2025.
apnews.com