Dismantling ICE in Pennsylvania
Over the past four years, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported nearly 1 million individuals from the United States. In 2017, a ProPublica investigation found that the Philadelphia ICE office arrested more undocumented immigrants without criminal convictions than any other office in the country. Yet despite ICE’s annual $8 billion budget and 400 local offices, it relies heavily on local officials and law enforcement to assist with its enforcement operations. In Pennsylvania, this collaboration includes formal contracts to use county jails to detain immigrants, ad hoc information sharing, and holding people based on ICE hold requests. In response, advocates have pushed local elected officials to enact policies that prohibit collaboration with ICE. These policies can slow, or even stop, ICE from separating families and communities.
In partnership with the Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple Law School, PICC is excited to release “Dismantling ICE in Pennsylvania” a new toolkit for advocates to continue this fight across Pennsylvania. This toolkit aims to support community-based, immigrant-led movements that are fighting to end local collaboration with ICE. This toolkit is NOT intended to provide a one-size-fits all approach. The policies and information can be tailored to meet the specific needs of local communities.
Thank you to PICC partners who reviewed and provided feedback in the development of this toolkit:
- Casa San Jose
- Juntos
- New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia
- CASA Pennsylvania
- Immigrant Rights Action
- CATA