At a Glance
- Philadelphia City Council introduces the ICE OUT package to restrict ICE agents’ operations in the city.
- The package bars masked agents, prohibits use of city property for raids, and stops data sharing and 287(g) agreements.
- City officials vow to prosecute any ICE agent violating constitutional rights.
- Why it matters: The legislation aims to protect residents from federal overreach and prevent future violent incidents.
Philadelphia residents and lawmakers gathered outside City Hall on Tuesday to launch a legislative package dubbed ICE OUT. The proposal seeks to curb the presence and activities of federal immigration agents within the City of Brotherly Love, following high-profile killings in Minneapolis and growing public concern over ICE operations nationwide.
ICE OUT Package Details
The proposed bills cover several key restrictions:
- Mask and vehicle concealment: ICE agents may no longer hide their identities with masks or unmarked vehicles while operating in Philadelphia.
- No city property for raids: The city will refuse to allow ICE to use municipal facilities-such as libraries, shelters, health centers, and recreation centers-for staging raids.
- Data and collaboration limits: City agencies are prohibited from sharing citizenship or immigration status data with ICE and from entering into 287(g) agreements that would let local police act as ICE agents.
- Access to city spaces: City employees cannot grant ICE access to city-owned spaces without a judicial warrant.
- Discrimination safeguards: The legislation bars discrimination or denial of services based on citizenship or immigration status by city agencies, employers, housing providers, or private businesses.
| Restriction | Target | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Mask/vehicle concealment | ICE agents | Prevents covert operations |
| City property use | ICE | Stops raids from municipal sites |
| Data sharing | City agencies | Stops sharing citizenship data |
| 287(g) agreements | Police | Eliminates ICE-police collaboration |
| Judicial warrant | City access | Requires court order for entry |
| Discrimination | All service providers | Protects residents’ rights |
Community Response
City Councilmember-at-large Kendra Brooks and Democratic Councilmember-at-large Rue Landau led the announcement. They cited the recent ICE-involved slayings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis as a catalyst for action.
> “Every time [President Donald] Trump tries to trample on our rights, we come together as Philadelphians and we stand up and we fight back. And, that’s what we are doing here today,” said Brooks.
Landau echoed the sentiment, chanting “ICE Out!” before reminding the crowd of the Minneapolis deaths.
> “They have only made our neighbors afraid to go to work and school, afraid to seek medical care, afraid to call 9-1-1 when they need help,” Landau said. “And, fear is not public safety. Trust is.”
The Philadelphia District Attorney, Larry Krasner, joined the rally, pledging to prosecute any ICE agent who violates the Constitution.
> “We are up against people who, simply put, find the law inconvenient, because, heaven forbid the Constitution would limit their desires at unlimited power,” Krasner declared. “We are going to fight against federal overreach.”
Krasner also emphasized the right to film ICE activities, calling those who do so “courageous.”
> “This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis, that’s what they are, in a country of 350 million,” Krasner said. “We outnumber them and as long as we stick to our values, protect our rights, make it very clear that homicide is not okay just because you are a federal officer. If we do that, this will end differently.”
He further noted that prosecutors nationwide are aligning with Minneapolis County Attorney Mary Moriarty to hold federal agents accountable.
> “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,” Krasner added.
Legal and Political Implications
The ICE OUT package, if passed, would represent a rare instance of a city asserting jurisdiction over a federal agency’s operations. The legislation would:
- Limit federal presence by restricting the operational tactics of ICE agents.
- Strengthen civil-rights protections by banning discriminatory practices tied to immigration status.
- Encourage transparency through mandatory judicial warrants for any city-space access.
The proposal is slated for a full City Council vote on Thursday. If approved, the bills will be sent to Mayor Cherelle Parker for signature.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | ICE OUT package unveiled outside City Hall |
| Thursday | Full Council vote scheduled |
| Post-vote | Bills forwarded to Mayor Parker |
Key Takeaways
- Philadelphia is taking a firm stance against ICE operations that could threaten residents’ safety.
- The ICE OUT package introduces comprehensive restrictions on masking, data sharing, and use of city property.
- City officials, including the District Attorney, pledge legal action against any ICE agent violating constitutional rights.
- The legislation reflects a broader national debate over federal immigration enforcement and local jurisdiction.
The outcome of the Thursday vote will determine whether Philadelphia becomes a model for other cities seeking to limit federal immigration enforcement within their borders.
