A speeding vehicle with two illegal aliens was stopped in Weatherly Borough last month, but officers were helpless to detain the pair that had been previously deported with no reentry allowed.

Stops like this happen, if not every day, at least once a week, Weatherly Police Chief Michael Bogart told borough council.

“That’s what we’re dealing with,” he said speaking in favor of a program that would allow his officers to partner with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Council last month tabled action on the ICE 287 program, which allows borough police to identify and process “removable aliens” with pending or active criminal charges.

But council didn’t hesitate to move forward with the program at its May meeting after a brief discussion.

Mayor/Council President Michael Bellizia raised concerns that the borough would be on the only town in the area not participating, as Hazleton and Tamaqua already signed up.

“I think we should consider moving on this, just to make sure that we don’t become a sanctuary city for illegals,” he said, noting that there were a lot of questions on training, reimbursement, travel and coverage.

“I think by proceeding, we could always stop,” Bellizia said about the borough commitment and ability to exit the program on its terms. “We could hit the stop button at any time.”

Councilman Joe Cyburt didn’t have a problem as long as the borough maintained police coverage, as they were looking to hire two more part-time officers.

Bogart pointed out that Benton Borough just got $100,000 through the program and about $1,500 per officer, which is one of the perks of participation — additional funding and/or equipment to help small police departments.

“They’re starting to pay out,” Bogart said. “I’m definitely in favor of it. Like you said Mr. Mayor, we can always put the brakes on if you feel the program is not benefiting us, which I don’t see how it’s not going to.”

The chief also cautioned council about being the one stand-alone borough in the region not participating.

Bellizia pointed to transportation of those detained under the program, which council discussed last month. The closest facility was in Pike County, but Bellizia said that he read another facility was being considered in Luzerne County.

Bogart noted that ICE agents sometimes transport detainees, and he would offer the transport to one of his off-duty officers to come in on the federal dime, to avoid sacrificing coverage in the borough.

“He’s the one doing the transport and we’re not taking people out of the borough,” the chief said.

Bellizia did note that officers handle daily police as well as other emergency responses, as two residents gave kudos of officers for assisting on a medical call before an out-of-town ambulance arrived recently.

“We don’t have any backup here,” he said. “You’re our first and last line.”

Officers do have to complete 40 hours of online training, Bogart said, and he’d manage that training the same way he handles any other mandatory officer training.

ICE agents will walk borough police through the first encounter they have with illegal aliens, and then the borough starts the program, Bogart said.

“They walk us through the first one, and the second one is on us,” he said. “That’s when we put in for reimbursement.”

Council did put a caveat on program participation, asking the chief to let the borough manager know of any expense over $1,000 as a result of the program so that council is made aware.

Bogart said he’s hoping that the program will allow the borough to have enhanced translation ability on police cellphones. Officers currently use Google Translate to communicate, he said.

Neither of the previously deported illegals in the car stopped by borough officers spoke English, he said.