PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Immigration advocates and stakeholders rallied at LOVE Park on Saturday ahead of a City Council hearing on a package of bills that would limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the city.
The proposal would prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks or driving unmarked vehicles during operations, prohibit the city from signing any enforcement agreements with the agency, limit data sharing with the agency, and require ICE to obtain a judicial warrant to access city-owned property.
Mari Gonzalez, president of LULAC Philadelphia, one of the many stakeholders backing the bill package.
“This is the time to take action. We’re not demanding the city to do the right thing, we are also asking it to act in the best interest,” she said. “Because we know that without immigrants, the city will continue to lose population, which will then continue to affect our economy.”
Councilmember Kendra Brooks is one of the chief sponsors of the package on City Council.
“We need Philly to show up at City Hall to make sure this legislation passes,” she said.
The hearing is at 10 a.m. Monday. If approved, the measure would move to the full City Council for a final vote.
