Policy Regarding Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) ~ January 23, 2025

Policy Regarding Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE)

The purpose of this policy is to establish clear parameters for courthouse security, with respect to ICE agents who enter for official business. This policy applies to security at The Juanita Kidd Stout Center (CJC), Family Court, City Hall, and Traffic Court.

A. Verification

Verification MUST be conducted by Sheriff’s deputies that are assigned to the secured entryways of each installation.

• Deputies must verify all ICE agents’ official credentials (Valid ICE identification) and identify whether the agent is armed.
• The assigned supervisor shall complete the following:
  1. Verify whether the agent has a valid federal warrant for an individual’s arrest, although they are not permitted to effectuate the arrest in the courthouse.
  2. Identify which courtroom(s) the agent is reporting to.
  3. Log the date and time the agent arrived at the courthouse.

B. Procedure

Agents MUST be informed of the following procedure prior to going to any courtroom.

• ICE agents are NOT permitted to effectuate warrants/make arrests inside the courtrooms, inside the courthouse, or on courthouse grounds.
• For the Sheriff’s Office to acknowledge a valid federal warrant, ICE must do the following:
  1. The valid warrant MUST be filed with the clerk of court 48 hours prior to the individual’s court date, which gives the Sheriff’s Office sufficient notice to modify transportation procedures.
  2. The valid warrant MUST be verified and present in the court file the day of the individual’s hearing.

• Upon receipt of a valid warrant, Sheriff deputies will do the following:
  1. Maintain custody of wanted individuals at the conclusion of the hearing.
  2. Transport individuals who were already in sheriff’s custody back to their original location/institution.
  3. Transfer individuals who would be considered new arrest under the valid federal warrant to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF).
  4. ICE MUST effectuate the valid warrant at the county prison.

• Under no circumstances shall Sheriff Deputies provide ICE agents with information regarding the individual’s status (i.e. whether the individual posted bail, etc.).
  1. Should any ICE agent inquire about status, the deputy shall redirect the agent to obtain information from the facility in which the individual will be transferred.

Related:

Recruiting Deputy Sheriff’s October 19, 2025 – December 28, 2025 Media Advisory | Sheriff Rochelle Bilal Clarifies Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office Policy on ICE Presence at Courthouses 07/07/25 Temporary Stay Evictions and Ejections The Sheriff’s Perspective Sheriff Deputy Application ~ March 10th, 2025 Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office Statement on No. 3 of 2025 Court Administrative Order