Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition

Toolbox: Everything

#StoptheHate – 2019-2020 PA Anti-Immigrant Bills

Last updated Mar 9 2021    

Every session, Pennsylvania legislators introduce bills targeting immigrant and refugee communities. Below is a summary of anti-immigrant bills introduced in PA as of October 25, 2019. You can find information about bills, committee meeting schedules, and your local legislators at: www.legis.state.pa.us. The attached materials include talking points, social media graphics and other materials you can use when […]

2019 Welcoming Schools Report

Last updated Feb 18 2020    

This report and resources provide a snapshot of the experiences of immigrant and refugee students and parents in school districts across Pennsylvania.  This report is designed to help guide educators and school administrators in creating and evaluating policies and practices at their schools. School districts are encouraged to use this report and the Welcoming Schools […]

2020 DACA Resources

Last updated Mar 9 2021    

Who qualifies for DACA Renewal? Individuals who have been granted DACA and whose work permits are expiring this year. USCIS is currently NOT accepting request from first time DACA applicants Stay up to date with your immigration status. This is a good time to check when your DACA expires and reach out to a non-profit […]

PA is Ready! Application Forms

Last updated May 18 2020    

On this page, you will find: PA is Ready! Grant Cover Sheet and Application PA is Ready! Budget Form 2020 PA is Ready! Handbook 2020 PA is Ready! Informational Webinar Slides

2020 Welcoming Schools Report!

Last updated Jan 27 2021    

This report and resources provide a snapshot of the experiences of immigrant and refugee students and parents in school districts across Pennsylvania. This report is designed to help guide educators and school administrators in creating and evaluating policies and practices at their schools. School districts are encouraged to use this report and the Welcoming Schools […]

Advocacy & Coalition Building How-To

Last updated May 3 2017    

In partnership with the Linking Communities Project and HIAS, we developed these how-to guides on Advocacy and Coalition Building for use with refugee community leaders across the country. These are general guides that can be used by any group that wants to learn more about how to get started with conducting advocacy efforts, or building […]

Advocacy Day Report (2015)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

On April 20, 2015 immigrant and refugee community members, advocates and allies convened in Harrisburg to talk to legislators about issues affecting immigrant and refugee communities in Pennsylvania.

Advocacy Packet (2015)  

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

The 2015 Advocacy Packet was put together for use during PICC’s annual Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day on April 20th, 2015. We have made the packet available for use by any individual or organization who would like materials for local meetings with their elected representatives.

DACA Delay Materials (2016)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

Due to a technical error this spring by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DACA renewal application have been delayed for thousands of young people across the country. In Pennsylvania, that means hundreds of young people are currently facing the loss of jobs, health coverage and financial aid, and are being pushed back into the shadows and the fear of possible deportation and separation from their families.

DACA Resources (2017)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

With the Sept. 5th, 2017 announcement ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the Trump Administration has upended the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people and their families. In this moment it is important that communities are receiving accurate information about what the end of DACA means for them, and what they can […]

Dismantling ICE in Pennsylvania

Last updated Feb 23 2023    

This toolkit aims to support community-based, immigrant-led movements that are fighting to end local collaboration with ICE.

Dreamers Initiative Application (2017)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

Through the Dreamers Initiative PA is Ready! will be providing assistance to young Pennsylvanians in renewing their DACA permits before the final deadline of Oct. 5, 2017. http://bit.do/DreamersInitiative

Education Access Toolkit for Undocumented Students

Last updated Mar 21 2021    

Undocumented students face unique challenges when applying for college. Some colleges and universities view undocumented students as out-of-state or international students, and charge higher tuition rates than for other residents of Pennsylvania. Many scholarships and types of financial aid are not open to undocumented students. For many students, this means putting a hold on or ending to dreams of attending college.

Family Preparation

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

Following recent executive orders that call for increased enforcement, community members are advised to prepare their families for the potential, worst case scenario that one or more family members are picked up by ICE. This is a very difficult conversation for our families to have. Download and share the following family preparation flyers for families […]

Immigrant and Refugee Day of Action Toolkit (2017)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

After the recent attacks on immigrant and refugee communities at both the state and federal level, it is time to come together and lift up an inclusive, welcoming, and diverse vision for Pennsylvania!

Know Your Rights

Last updated Jan 27 2021    

Do you know what to do if ICE comes to your door? Download resources to help educate your family and community!

PA is Ready! Evaluation (2019)

Last updated Apr 25 2019    

PA is Ready! is a network and participatory grantmaking fund, consisting of 29 organizations that represent and serve Pennsylvania’s diverse immigrant communities. Organizations originally came together around a shared vision in 2014, later creating project partnerships between legal services and community based organizations to provide legal and other immigration services and leadership development statewide. With […]

Philadelphia Ballot Initiative on Language Access (2017)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

If you live and vote in Philadelphia, this year you can vote on Ballot Question #3, a ballot initiative on language access. If this initiative passes, it will ensure that uniform language access standards are followed by all city agencies, boards, and commissions. Newly covered agencies include the City Council and ‘row offices’ such as the City Commissioners, the District Attorney, the Board of Revision of Taxes, and the Sheriff.

Philadelphia City Council Hearing on Compliance With ICE Holds (2014)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

On Wednesday, March 12th, City Council held a historic public hearing on Philadelphia’s compliance with ICE holds, which are non-mandatory requests from the federal immigration enforcement office to local Philadelphia law enforcement to hold someone who should otherwise be released. Immigrant leaders, advocates, and allies took the stand before Council’s Public Safety Committee to discuss the devastating impact of ICE holds on immigrant communities in Philadelphia and to call on the Mayor to work with community organizations to draft a new policy that ends all ICE holds.

Public Charge: What you need to know

Last updated Apr 14 2021    

On March 9, 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) decided to stop defending the Trump-era public charge regulations, resulting in a dismissal of pending appeals.

Refugees Welcome PA Toolkit (2015)  

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

Many national figures are using the tragic events in Paris and Beirut as a reason to promote anti-refugee hatred and fear and promote legislation to limit the resettlement of Syrian and all refugees into the United States. In November the House passed H.R 4038, the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Actof 2015 which makes […]

A Changing Landscape: Pennsylvania Counties Reevaluate Policies on Immigration Detainers

Last updated Sep 8 2019    

We are excited to announce the release of A Changing Landscape: Pennsylvania Counties Reevaluate Policies on Immigration Detainers, a report by the Sheller Center for Social Justice on immigration detainer policies across Pennsylvania. According to this report, about half of Pennsylvania counties no longer hold individuals in local jails at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after they are otherwise eligible to be released.

Fulfilling Pennsylvania’s Promise to Cover All Kids

Last updated Sep 8 2019    

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) recently released Fulfilling Pennsylvania’s Promise to Cover All Kids – Closing the Health Insurance Gap for Children,a report on why CHIP coverage should be expanded to include undocumented children.

Shut Down Berks Toolkit

Last updated Aug 2 2022    

Pennsylvania is currently home to the Berks County Immigrant Prison (BCRC), it was previously one of three detention centers for immigrant families, where children as young as two-weeks-old have been incarcerated. Since January 2022, ICE and the Biden administration have been incarcerating immigrant women as young as 18 years old. Detention is always violent, unjust […]

Stop HB1885 – Advocacy Resources (2016)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

The Pennsylvania Senate is expected to vote this week on HB1885, a bill that would punish cities and counties that limit collaboration with ICE, and would increase racial profiling in PA. If passed into law, this bill would make our communities less safe and would open every municipality in PA to costly litigation.

Tuition Equity Toolkit (2019-20)

Last updated Apr 15 2020    

This toolkit includes 3 easy ways for advocates and allies to support the campaign for tuition equity. All materials, including tips, fact sheets and social media graphics are downloadable from this page. Please note we update this toolkit as needed. You will find the latest update at the bottom of each page of our toolkit. […]

Tuition Equity Toolkit (2015)

Last updated Apr 23 2019    

This toolkit includes 4 easy ways for advocates and allies to support the campaign for tuition equity. All materials, including tips, fact sheets and social media graphics are downloadable from this page or in our dropbox folder. If you have any questions, or want to get more involved, please contact PICC’s youth organizer, Maria Sotomayor at: 215-832-3482 or mariasotomayor@paimmigrant.org.

Welcoming Schools Toolkit

Last updated Apr 15 2020    

This toolkit provides students, parents, and community members with the information and tools they need to work with their schools to enact policies to ensure that all students, regardless of immigration status, are welcome, safe, and protected in the school environment.