Pennsylvania State Senators Call for ICE Out of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania state senators joined dozens of advocates and community leaders from across the Commonwealth in a united call for ICE Out of Pennsylvania with a suite of bills to protect the safety of Pennsylvania’s communities and uphold the rights of its people. The legislation outlines restrictions of federal immigration enforcement activities that mirror those passed by Philadelphia City Council in April. Watch video of the press conference. Read more about it from this WHYY article.

Berks Organizing Workgroup calls on State Senators Judy Schwank, Scott Martin, Tracy Pennycuick, Katie Muth, and Chris Gebhard to support this legislation to protect the residents of Berks County from the oppressive and unconstitutional actions and arrests by ICE.

The bills would:

• Protect community spaces from civil immigration enforcement activities, and include Keep ICE Off Pennsylvania’s Property (SB1193), Protecting Our Vote (SB1357), Welcoming Schools: Ensuring PA Schools Are Safe Places for All Students (SB1125) and Welcoming Campuses: Protecting Students at Higher Education Institutions (bill number forthcoming).

• Strengthen restrictions on ICE activities and limit local law enforcement from collaborating with ICE with No Secret Police (SB1071) and Limiting Local Entanglements with ICE (SB1139).

• Create more opportunities for immigrant residents in Pennsylvania with the bill to establish the Office of New Pennsylvanians (SB24).

• Enforce accountability for federal law enforcement agents who commit civil rights violations, with Remedies for Federal Abuses of Power (SB1336).

We call on supporters of this legistation to petition, call and write Senators Schwank, Martin, Pennycuick, Muth, and Gebhard to convince them to support the efforts to remove ICE from Berks County and all of Pennsylvania.