Bucks County, PA – Officials in Bucks County announced a new law enforcement partnership Tuesday following the guilty plea of 41-year-old Elias Ortega, who admitted to the felony sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl.
According to county officials, Ortega had previously been arrested for domestic assault but was released on bail because authorities had no system to verify his immigration status. Weeks later, he committed the crime he pleaded guilty to today.
The newly announced partnership with federal immigration authorities is designed to ensure such cases are not repeated. It will allow specially trained deputies to verify the immigration status of individuals wanted for crimes or with outstanding warrants by securely accessing a federal immigration database.
Officials emphasized that this process occurs only after a lawful criminal arrest, and all training and program costs will be funded by the federal government, not county taxpayers.
County leaders also sought to clarify what the initiative does not include:
- Deputies will not perform general immigration enforcement or street-level checks.
- No one will be stopped or questioned based on ethnicity, language, or perceived immigration status.
- The policy does not affect how deputies engage with victims, witnesses, or law-abiding residents.
“The mission to protect and serve everyone in Bucks County remains unchanged,” officials stated.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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