BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. -- The Bucks County sheriff was ousted last week after facing criticism from his Democratic opponent and rights groups over a partnership he forged with federal immigration authorities.

Republican Sheriff Fred Harran signed up in April for the United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program , which delegates some federal immigration responsibilities to local law enforcement departments.

Under the agreement, some Bucks County deputies can "enforce limited immigration authority while performing routine police duties, such as identifying an alien at a DUI checkpoint and sharing information directly with ICE," according to an ICE webpage describing the program.

Out of three models, Harran chose the one that grants the most authority to local depu

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