Montgomery County jail officials have dropped their policy of holding immigrants wanted by ICE even after they’ve posted bail, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.

The four-hour-hold policy, which enabled federal agents to arrest people who might otherwise have been freed, was changed three days after The Inquirer reported on the case of Mexican national Andrea Lozano-Alanis, 31, of Norristown, who was held by the county for hours after her $77 bail was paid, then turned over to ICE agents.

Lozano-Alanis was recently arrested in East Norriton on charges of child endangerment, recklessly endangering another person, careless and reckless driving, and driving without a license. She now faces deportation to Mexico and is being held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, The Inquirer said.

The county now will hold people for up to 24 hours if it receives a judicial warrant. Previously, the county automatically held those named in ICE detainers for an additional four hours after they posted bail.

“The MCCF’s policy to require a judicial warrant ensures that all outside agencies — whether the federal government, states, or neighboring counties — have done their due diligence and follow the rule of law,“ Montgomery County commissioners Neil Makhija and Jamila Winder said in a statement.

Commissioner Tom Dibello told The Inquirer that he was disappointed by the decision and believes the decision was influenced by immigration activists.

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