Philadelphia's 40-Year Sanctuary History Began with Salvadoran Refugees

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Philadelphia has a 40-year history of providing sanctuary and support for undocumented immigrants, beginning in the 1980s when local churches hid refugees fleeing violence in El Salvador. Over the decades, a network of religious congregations, activist groups, and city officials have worked to protect immigrants and establish Philadelphia as a sanctuary city, even as federal immigration policies have shifted.

Why it matters

Philadelphia's longstanding commitment to protecting undocumented immigrants reflects the city's progressive values and its resistance to harsh federal crackdowns on immigration. As a major urban center, Philadelphia's sanctuary policies have set an example for other cities seeking to support their immigrant communities.

The details

In the 1980s, Philadelphia churches provided shelter and aid to Salvadoran refugees fleeing civil war in their home country. This grassroots sanctuary movement grew over the decades, with religious groups, nonprofits, and city government collaborating to offer legal aid, housing, and other resources to undocumented immigrants. Philadelphia officially declared itself a 'sanctuary city' in 2014, limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

• The sanctuary movement in Philadelphia began in the 1980s, when local churches started hiding Salvadoran refugees.
• In 2014, the city of Philadelphia officially declared itself a 'sanctuary city'.