Congressman Mackenzie Denounces Northampton County Executive’s Decision to Not Fully Cooperate with ICE

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Last night, U.S. Congressman Ryan Mackenzie, representing the Greater Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, took to the House floor to denounce Northampton County’s policy of not fully cooperating with ICE that was put into place by the current County Executive. 

This issue has taken on greater significance in light of the recent arrest of Luis Gualdron-Gualdron, an illegal immigrant and suspected member of Tren de Aragua who was arrested for indecent assault on a minor in Bethlehem, PA.

“It is appalling that Northampton County refuses to fully cooperate with federal law enforcement when it comes to the apprehension of a violent criminal who is here in the country illegally,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “Northampton County needs to rescind the executive order that the current County Executive signed off on because it has now been shown to have directly put law enforcement officers and our community in harm’s way.”

Congressman Mackenzie, a member of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, walked through the details of Gualdron’s case and outlined the lack of cooperation from Northampton County.

“Five years ago, in March 2020, the Northampton County Executive issued an executive order prohibiting county law enforcement from fully cooperating with ICE,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “Because of the County Executive’s order, ICE was forced to arrest this violent criminal outside the prison.”

Congressman Mackenzie also echoed the concerns expressed by ICE agents regarding this policy. “My office has spoken with ICE and they explained that allowing this violent criminal to leave prison rather than be arrested, while already detained, greatly increases the possibility for escape from capture,” said Congressman Mackenzie. “It increases the danger to law enforcement who must now make an arrest in an uncontrolled environment, and it puts the public in greater danger as this violent criminal has a greater chance of escaping.”

On the House floor, Congressman Mackenzie also cited an AP-NORC poll, conducted from January 9-13, 2025, that showed the public supports “deporting undocumented migrants convicted of a violent crime” by a margin of 83 to 6. “The public knows what Northampton County did in this case was wrong and the overwhelming, bipartisan position is that federal law enforcement should be able to arrest and deport these violent criminals without any impediments,” said Congressman Mackenzie.

Full remarks HERE