Philadelphia City Council Considers "ICE Out" Legislation to Protect Immigrants

"ICE Out" Legislation in Philadelphia

• 🎯 At least 15 Philadelphia City Council members are backing a package of seven bills, dubbed "ICE Out" legislation, to combat federal immigration enforcement operations.
• 🏛️ The legislation aims to codify sanctuary protections, prohibit federal immigration agents from concealing their identities or covering their faces, and require judge-signed warrants.
• 🤝 It also prohibits city workers from cooperating with ICE and prevents them from staging raids in public spaces like schools or recreation centers.
• ⚖️ The bill is expected to pass with a veto-proof majority, with Council members Kendra Brooks and Ru Landau leading the effort.

District Attorney's Stance on ICE Agents

• 🗣️ Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has launched a national coalition of prosecutors to hold federal immigration agents accountable for violating state or local laws and civil rights.
• ⚠️ Krasner referred to some ICE agents as "wannabe Nazis" and vowed to ensure accountability, stating, "If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities. We will find you. We will achieve justice."
• 🤝 This coalition includes prosecutors from Virginia, Arizona, and Texas, aiming to ensure justice under the Constitution and laws of the United States.

Enforcement and Community Safety

• 🛠️ Councilmember Kendra Brooks emphasized that the legislation was crafted in close collaboration with DA Larry Kraner and the sheriff's department to ensure enforceability.
• 💬 The primary goal is to make community members feel safe and to codify existing executive orders, addressing concerns about unmasked ICE agents, unmarked cars, and data sharing with ICE.
• 🔒 The legislation seeks to prevent undue harm and work with existing law enforcement to protect citizens.

Detention Center Conditions and State Support

• 🏥 Regarding detention center conditions, Brooks noted that recent deaths were in Pennsylvania detention centers, not specifically Philadelphia, but that the city is working with legislators across the Commonwealth on related bills.
• 🛡️ The support from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who has sued the Trump administration multiple times, is seen as significant in fighting back against federal actions.
• 🗓️ The "ICE Out" legislation is expected to go into committee within four to eight weeks, with a goal to move it as quickly as possible to ensure the safety of Philadelphians and maintain the city as a welcoming place for immigrant neighbors.