Bucks County Sheriff confirms pursuit of 287(g) program has ended – Bucks Round-Up – November 24, 2025
Bucks County Sheriff confirms pursuit of 287(g) program has ended
The Bucks County Sheriff’s Office has formally backed away from the controversial 287(g) partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ending months of debate over how far local law enforcement should go in assisting federal immigration officers. Outgoing Sheriff Fred Harran (R) confirmed this week that the program was never fully implemented, despite his earlier court victory allowing it to proceed. Harran and sixteen deputies had been certified for limited ICE authority, but he said he halted all remaining efforts after losing the November 4 election to Democrat Danny Ceisler, who campaigned on terminating the agreement. The office never received the equipment needed to carry out 287(g), though ICE did grant access to its warrant and detainer database. Harran described the actual cooperation as minimal — notifying ICE twice when illegal immigrants with active detainers were picked up on criminal warrants and assisting federal agents with courthouse removals. Supporters said the agreement would have focused on offenders already in custody, but opponents argued it opened the door to profiling and undermined trust with immigrant communities. With the election decided and no written directives ever issued, the program is effectively dead.
Retiring CBSD board member promises litigation for justice for son
In remarks to his fellow board members and community families last week, retiring Central Bucks School District Director Jim Pepper (R) spoke frankly about the difficulties he and his family faced in light of abuse his child allegedly suffered. Pepper said he hoped Joe Khan, a Democrat who was recently elected Bucks County District Attorney, would investigate “the various people who have threatened my family” over the last year, saying he and his loved ones have endured stalking and harassment. As for administrators who he believes obstructed a proper probe of the abuse allegations, “the reckoning is coming… and it’s not going to be some ham-and-egger lawyer coming for you,” he said, later explicitly promising a lawsuit. He praised some board members for their support amidst his family’s hardship but called school directors and employees who were hostile “some of the worst people I’ve ever met in my life — stone-cold liars.” When School Director Karen Smith (D) spoke up to address Pepper, the distraught father didn’t let her gloss over their adversarial relationship when he sought justice for his nonverbal son who allegedly suffered abuse in a special-needs classroom. “Mr. Pepper, I thank you for your service,” she began. He then interjected, “Karen, just so we’re clear, you sat back and allowed people traffic in information about my older boy. That is a fact. Continue.” She then wished him “a lifetime of peace and happiness.” Pepper was the only remaining Republican Central Bucks school director before departing last week. Also retiring are Democrats Rob Duggar and Jenine Zdanowicz, both of whom were appointed to fill vacancies left by the resignations of Republicans Lisa Sciscio and Debra Cannon. Acting Superintendent Charles Malone recognized the work of Pepper, Duggar, and Zdanowicz. “I thank them on behalf of the entire district,” he said.
Former superintendent and principal appeal firings
The Central Bucks School District is facing pushback from two former administrators who are now fighting to overturn their firings in the aftermath of abuse allegations inside an autistic support classroom at Jamison Elementary. Former Superintendent Steven Yanni has appealed to Bucks County Court, arguing he relied on internal assessments when he chose not to immediately file a ChildLine report or remove the accused staff. Yanni’s 139-page filing claims the school board acted with bias and mishandled the termination process. Former principal David Heineman has initiated his own appeal through the State Department of Education, claiming that his 26-year career was upended by unproven mischaracterizations of his conduct. CBSD officials are declining comment as the litigation proceeds, but their recent filing maintains that the terminations were justified.
Missing Bensalem Township teen located in New York City
Sixteen-year-old, Mackenzie Kramer, was found safe in New York City Saturday. Kramer was reported missing last Tuesday, November 18 after Bensalem Township Police received a missing person’s report for Kramer, of Thunder Circle, Bensalem. Kramer was last seen on Tuesday afternoon after getting off her school bus on Brookwood Drive. Since then, officers actively pursed several leads, including interviews with family, friends, and other people known to her. Efforts to locate Kramer through these contacts were not unsuccessful, until she was found safe in New York City on Saturday, November 22. Bensalem Police have not disclosed how Kramer’s location was ultimately determined.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490. Bradley Vasoli is the senior editor of The Independence.
