After an 11-3 vote, Allegheny County Council passed a bill barring county employees from cooperating with federal immigration authorities last week. Councilwoman Bethany Hallam introduced the bill in January in response to immigration crackdown efforts reported in neighboring cities and nationwide, seeking to restrict local governments and county employees from aiding with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Some councilmembers have accused some county agencies, specifically the Sheriff’s Office, in being more cooperative with ICE than they have publicly stated. Allegheny county employees cannot inquire about a resident immigration status, retain citizenship information for more than 60 days on county documents, enter in a control with a federal authority to access county data, detain a person for no legal reason unless at a federal immigration detainer request, or house immigrant detainees in the county jail. The types of cooperations barred hold for both ICE and border patrol agents.
Councilwoman Hallam joined with council members Nick Futures Jordan Botta, Dan Grzybek, Paul Klein, Kathleen Madonna-Emmerling, Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, John Palmierie, Bob Palmosina, Alex Rose and Lissa Geiger Shulman backed the vote. Councilman DeWitt Walton, democrat, was a vocal critic of the bill, calling its existence futile in stopping ICE agents from detaining people anyways regardless of if county employees choose to intervene.
Amendments proposed by those the council who opposed the bill were vetoed, such as one that would add a 2029 expiration date from the bill until it’s been reapproved. Councilmembers Aaron Adams and Suzanne Fillagi proposed ICE cooperation restriction should exclude the Sheriff’s Office and other county row offices, but after a discussion, decided to withdraw their suggestions.
However, the voting process hasn’t been well received by some residents of the city. Opponents against the bill cited that this could potentially risk residents to danger, citing public safety concerns. Council President Pat Catena, who abstained, stated that his family was threatened in during the run-up to the vote, and it is still unclear whether the perpetuator supported or opposed this bill.
Jaime Martinez, executive director of immigrant-rights group Frontline Dignity, stated that the county should provide guidance to employees interacting with ICE and increase transparency, but asserted that the bill highlights the nonessential tie between federal law enforcement and local governments in dealing with immigration issues, even though Allegheny County cannot halt ICE’s physical presence here.