Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to formally ban police and city staff from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. The move d
Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to formally ban police and city staff from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.
Councilors put forward a multi-bill package at the end of March in response to ongoing concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations across the region. The bill that passed Tuesday, which was part of that package, enshrines in law an existing policy that forbids city employees from collaborating with ICE, or from sharing information about someone’s immigration status with federal agents. It gives added weight to the promises already made by Mayor Corey O’Connor and Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando.
Barb Warwick, one of the sponsors of the bill, said she hoped the passage of the legislation would help reassure Pittsburgh’s immigrant population that it is safe to use city services.
“ The reality is that the folks who are living this nightmare right now don't necessarily know. They don't know an ICE officer versus a police officer. There's a general fear of even accessing services,” Warwick said.
