PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has leased 16 parking spaces from a Philadelphia Parking Authority-managed garage in Old City. The lease is up for renewal and some Philadelphians want to see it expire.
It’s a contract between ICE and the PPA that expires Sept. 29: 16 parking spaces and entry badges in exchange for $53,520.
“It may only be 16 spots, but it only takes one ICE vehicle and one ICE agent to ruin a family's life,” said Rev. Jay Bergen with No ICE Philly. He and a dozen others attended the PPA’s September meeting and urged the board to deny the lease’s renewal.
“We've seen the havoc that even just one or two ICE agents can cause and the damage it can cause, the ripple effects it has in a neighborhood.”
Fellow organizer Aniqa Raihan said despite PPA’s private status, not renewing the lease would still send a message.
“PPA is not technically part of the city, but [it] serves the city, employs folks from the city, has all their operations in the city, gets their revenue from the city and I think, and I hope see themselves as part of the city” she said.
“They're not beholden by the ‘ICE Out’ legislation, but this is one way that they could show that they hear the people and the will of the city.”
ICE has not responded to a request for comment. The PPA said the renewal does not require a vote by the board and declined to comment on the lease.
The agency leases 16 spaces in an Old City garage
The agency leases 16 spaces in an Old City garage
