Pennsylvania Communities Grapple with Limits on Cooperating with ICE

Local governments across the state are passing legislation to restrict federal immigration enforcement in their communities.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:09am

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Across Pennsylvania, cities and counties are passing legislation to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities like ICE. While the ability of local governments to restrict federal agents is limited, many are taking steps like banning the use of municipal resources for immigration enforcement, prohibiting data sharing with federal agencies, and refusing to hold detainees for ICE. The efforts have had mixed results, with some communities facing legal challenges, but advocates say the push is building momentum as residents demand action from their local leaders.

Why it matters

As the federal government has ramped up immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, local communities in Pennsylvania are grappling with how much they can do to protect immigrant residents. With the state legislature deadlocked on the issue, municipal and county governments have become the frontline, trying to balance public safety, civil liberties, and limited resources. The debate has sparked difficult conversations about the role of local government in federal immigration policy.

The details

Across Pennsylvania, from the Lehigh Valley to the state capital of Harrisburg, local governments have considered or passed legislation to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In Allentown, a non-cooperation policy was adopted, while Easton passed a resolution urging city employees not to aid immigration enforcement. In Harrisburg, city council members spent months debating an ordinance that would prohibit the use of municipal resources for immigration enforcement, though they faced legal limitations on what they could do. Advocates say the push for these policies is building momentum, as residents demand action from their local leaders. However, not all communities have been supportive, with some county commissioners rejecting efforts to limit cooperation with ICE. There are also legal challenges, as seen in Bucks County where a judge sided with the sheriff's decision to enter a 287(g) agreement with federal agents, despite opposition from county commissioners.

  • In June 2025, an ICE raid in Bethlehem resulted in 17 people being detained.
  • Since the beginning of 2025, dozens of Pennsylvania cities and counties have considered or passed legislation aimed at limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities or supporting immigrant communities.

The players

Elianis Gautier Peraza

A 38-year-old immigrant rights advocate who has been working to influence city governments across Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley to pass ordinances restricting federal immigration enforcement.

John Brenner

The executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the former mayor of York, who says local officials are trying to listen to residents' concerns and explain what they can do regarding federal immigration enforcement.

Alex Domingos

An advocacy and policy strategist at the ACLU of Pennsylvania who has worked with local governments on policies to limit cooperation with ICE, such as banning the use of municipal resources for immigration enforcement.

Ausha Green

The chair of the public safety committee in Harrisburg, who led the city council's public discussion on an anti-ICE ordinance.

Neil Grover

The city solicitor in Harrisburg, who advised council members on the legal limitations of what they could include in an anti-ICE ordinance.

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What they’re saying

“People are beginning to wake up. There's a lot of people out there very engaged.”

— Elianis Gautier Peraza, Immigrant rights advocate

“It's not just municipal government that's wrestling with this, I think it's all of us as American citizens. That's why you have residents of our communities, whether it's a city, bureau or township, who are going to their local officials. And I think local officials are trying very diligently to listen to those concerns and try to explain what we can do.”

— John Brenner, Executive director of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and former mayor of York

“We can't tell federal agents sent to the city that they can't be in the city. People need to be realistic about that. We can not take a group of armed officers and send them against another group of armed officers to decide who's the last person standing.”

— Neil Grover, City solicitor, Harrisburg

“No matter what policy is passed locally, they can't prevent ICE from coming into a town or doing a raid. But they can choose not to expend their own resources or support it voluntarily, absent a [judicial] warrant or a court order.”

— Alex Domingos, Advocacy and policy strategist, ACLU of Pennsylvania

“My legislative team has been crafting and working with legislative bodies across the commonwealth and across the country on what we should do to prevent ICE from disrupting our city. All of this is all preventative. If we have a plan, then we won't be caught off guard.”

— Kendra Brooks, City council minority leader, Philadelphia

What’s next

The judge in the Bucks County case will decide whether to uphold the sheriff's 287(g) agreement with ICE, despite opposition from county commissioners.

The takeaway

The debate over local governments' role in federal immigration enforcement has sparked difficult conversations in communities across Pennsylvania. While the ability of municipalities and counties to restrict ICE is limited, many are taking steps to protect immigrant residents and limit the use of local resources for immigration enforcement. The issue has become a flashpoint, with advocates pushing for stronger protections and some officials facing legal challenges to their efforts.