The Butler County Sheriff’s office soon could make arrests on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sheriff Mike Slupe said his office was approved June 23 to participate in an ICE program that grants local law enforcement agencies the authority to conduct immigration arrests as requested by ICE.

He said the sheriff’s office still will need legal paperwork, similar to a bench warrant, from ICE under the agreement to make arrests.

“This is about public safety,” Slupe said. “We will not proceed without paperwork.”

The sheriff’s office joined 15 other Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies authorized by the agreement.

Not all of the county’s 36 sheriff deputies will be authorized. Under the task force model, Slupe will nominate deputies to take a 40-hour online training course. The Pittsburgh ICE field office then may provide the sheriff’s office with an immigration detainer and ask the sheriff to make an arrest.

The sheriff’s office does not have to comply with the ICE request, even if all legal paperwork is provided. The office will not be reimbursed for immigration operations, Slupe said.

Deputies nominated for training must pass a background check, have two years of law enforcement experience and be a U.S. citizen. Law enforcement agencies interested in participating must sign a memorandum of understanding with ICE.

Slupe is awaiting communications from the Pittsburgh ICE office on when to submit his deputy nominations and when training will begin.

“At the end of the day, we want to do this legally, protect everyone’s rights and keep our county safe,” Slupe said. “(ICE) has to have legal paperwork before we would even get involved.”

The program stems from a Jan. 20 executive order requiring ICE to authorize state and local law enforcement to conduct immigration arrests as determined by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

The sheriff’s office’s primary responsibilities, according to the county code, include protecting courtrooms during trials, serving warrants and transporting inmates. Slupe said his office will continue its role within the county while supporting ICE.

The sheriff’s office previously assisted federal agencies by providing additional staff and transportation when needed, Slupe said.

Under the ICE agreement, the federal agency still would be liable for damages or litigation that may follow.

The agreement must be approved by the Butler County Commissioners at a public meeting before it can be adopted, said Commissioner Kevin Boozel. The next commissioners’ meeting is July 9.

Commissioner Leslie Osche reiterated the agreement will allow the sheriff’s office to assist only if it chooses, and immigration enforcement will not become a priority for county law enforcement.

Osche said she doesn’t believe there’s a large population of undocumented immigrants in the county, but bad actors still pass through the area traveling on Interstates 79 and 80 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. She sees the agreement as offering extra training and an additional avenue of working with law enforcement.

“Any amount of training and collaboration is always good,” Osche said.

Commissioner Kim Geyer also highlighted the training the program will provide county sheriff’s deputies. She said she’s heard from critics of ICE but doesn’t believe Butler County has immigrant communities that would be largely affected.

“When people are serving warrants to immigrants, they have a reason, and the public isn’t always privy to that,” she said.

In addition to seeking commissioner approval, Boozel’s primary concern stems from potential increased insurance costs to taxpayers. The county is insured through the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, and Boozel said he was told the action would increase rates.

“That’s why we have to do it in public,” Boozel said.

He added Butler County is not a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, but county law enforcement also will not hold people on invalid detainers.

Slupe said he anticipates when ICE asks the sheriff’s office to detain people, ICE may ask that they be transported to the Pittsburgh field office or housed in Butler County Prison under its agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service to house federal inmates.

“We are working with our prison and making sure we follow the policies that have been adopted, and we feel we will be able to comply,” Slupe said.

Attempts to contact a Butler County Prison representative were unsuccessful.