MAKE ALLEGHENY A
SANCTUARY COUNTY!
We, the undersigned residents of Allegheny County, demand that the Allegheny County Council take immediate action to protect our immigrant communities and declare Allegheny County a sanctuary county. In the face of federal attacks on immigrants, including increased ICE raids and harmful legislation, it is the responsibility of local leaders to stand up for the rights and safety of all residents.
DEMANDS:
1. No local law enforcement collaboration with ICE!
We demand that Allegheny County officials, including the County Executive and local police departments, refuse to collaborate in any way with ICE. This includes but is not limited to sharing criminal records, participating in raids, or facilitating ICE’s surveillance and terror campaigns against immigrant communities.
With the potential passage of laws like the Laken Riley Act, which mandates ICE to arrest undocumented immigrants accused of even minor offenses, it is more critical than ever that Allegheny County law enforcement refuse to participate in these attacks. We also demand that county officials end any programs or partnerships that enable the sharing of surveillance data with ICE, such as those facilitated through regional intelligence centers.
2. Stop the racist demonization of immigrants!
President Trump and numerous Pennsylvania leaders have repeatedly used racist language to scapegoat immigrants, implying that they are “criminals” or a drain on resources. This is a deliberate attempt to shift blame for the housing crisis, rising cost of living, and other systemic failures onto vulnerable communities.
We demand that Allegheny County leaders publicly reject this racist rhetoric and that they commit to fully funding social programs that meet the needs of all working people in Allegheny County, regardless of immigration status.
3. No immigration status restrictions on public programs!
We demand that Allegheny County officials reject any policy that limits access to public services based on immigration status. Instead we must expand access to public housing and shelter programs. Every individual and family in Allegheny County, regardless of immigration status, deserves access to programs that improve their living standards.
4. No ICE in Allegheny County public schools or other public institutions!
The federal government has rolled back protections for “sensitive locations” like schools and churches, leaving immigrant communities vulnerable to ICE raids. We demand that Allegheny County leaders take immediate action to ensure that all public institutions, including schools, libraries, and hospitals, remain safe spaces for everyone.
This includes preventing ICE from entering school buildings, prohibiting the sharing of student or family information with ICE, and ensuring that all Allegheny County schools are welcoming environments for children and families, regardless of immigration status.
5. No use of Allegheny County resources to enforce federal immigration law!
President Trump has been co-opting local governments into carrying out his extreme agenda by deputizing them to enforce federal immigration law. Allegheny County must not waste its limited resources persecuting its residents just to appease the political ambitions of a reactionary administration. No Allegheny County personnel, offices, or resources should be expended identifying, tracking, or detaining members of our immigrant communities.
6. Create an Allegheny County ID available to all county residents!
Many cities and counties around the country have created local ID cards available to all residents regardless of immigration status to reduce inequality of opportunity for immigrants. Allegheny County must do so as well in order to provide residents with legal ID that does not disclose immigration status or require a social security number to acquire, contrary to PA IDs.