Lehigh County officials have moved to evict Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from county-owned office space in Allentown, Penn., after revelations that the agency occupied the property for more than three years without paying rent. County leaders say ICE owes over $115,000 in unpaid rent and associated fees and they are pursuing legal action to recover the funds.
According to Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) — a division of ICE — moved into the property under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed in October 2022. The MOA was intended to transition into a formal lease within 10 months, but no valid lease was ever executed.
Pinsley stated, “We can give them a taste of their own medicine,” referring to eviction proceedings. He emphasized that the county had absorbed costs for utilities, maintenance and operations during ICE’s occupancy, despite no payments being recorded in county accounts.
County executive’s response
Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel confirmed that his administration is terminating any lease arrangement with the Department of Homeland Security. Siegel criticized DHS’s handling of the matter, saying the agency’s “national reputation for recklessness” justified ending the agreement…