PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — To cap a Holy Week of action against ICE in Philadelphia, dozens of advocates gathered outside City Hall Saturday afternoon to recap and demand that City Council pass its pending ICE Out legislation.
“We had people who took real risks today because we believe Philadelphia can be a city of safety. We believe that Philadelphia can be a sanctuary for everyone who lives here,” said Rev. Jay Bergen, a leader of No ICE Philly.
The ICE Out legislation was introduced to City Council by councilmembers Rue Landau and Kendra Brooks in January. It places guardrails on how ICE agents can operate in the city and restricts the information city agencies can share with ICE.
It would require agents to remove masks and display proper identification, restrict data sharing between the city and agency, among other things.
Rachel, who attended the rally, said it’s a necessary first step to reining in ICE.
“It’s a starting point where at least we can have some limitations on the unchecked power that they are trying to take from what should rightfully be the rule of the people here in Philly.”
City Council will hold a hearing on the bill package on Monday, April 13, at 10 a.m.
“We need this city to sign up and pass this legislation,” said Ahmet Tekelioglu with CAIR Philly.
“In all of our communities, pain is there. For every GoFundMe campaign that we know, there is a family that is suffering.”
