Eight immigrant advocacy organizations held a public training Tuesday night to walk Philadelphia residents through the city’s new “ICE Out” laws, saying many people still don’t know what the legislation covers or how it is being enforced more than a month after it took effect.
The session at Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School covered what the laws restrict, which city-owned spaces are protected and what residents can do if they believe city employees have violated the rules. Organizers said the training was necessary because the city has not adequately communicated how the laws work in practice.
What the laws restrict
The “ICE Out” package places new limits on federal immigration enforcement activity in city-owned spaces and restricts how city employees can cooperate with immigration agents. Among other provisions, ICE agents cannot enter city-owned spaces without a judicial warrant, and city employees face limits on when they can assist federal immigration authorities.
Elena Emelchin Brunner, an immigration justice organizer at Asian Americans United, said the legislation aims to keep communities safe while ensuring local resources stay focused on local needs…