VOTE FROM DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. THE ORDINANCE PASSED 11 TO 3, WITH ONE MEMBER ABSTAINING, AND THAT MEMBER WAS ACTUALLY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAT CATINA, WHO CALLED IN FROM HOME BECAUSE HE SAID THAT SOMEONE CAME TO HIS HOUSE THIS MORNING AND THREATENED BOTH HIS AND HIS SON’S LIVES OVER THIS VOTE. THOUGH COUNCIL STILL WENT AHEAD AND DID FINISH AFTER AN OVER FOUR HOUR MEETING. THE ORDINANCE ESSENTIALLY PROHIBITS ALL COUNTY EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST POLICE, FROM COOPERATING WITH ICE EXCEPT WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW OR COURT ORDER. COUNTY EXECUTIVE SARA INNAMORATO RELEASED A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE VOTE, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT EVEN WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS ORDINANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING ALLEGHENY COUNTY, CANNOT STOP ISIS PRESENCE HERE. MY ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK. MOST PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING WANTED COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE. IT’S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A NEIGHBOR. WOULD YOU BE MINE? THEY CALLED ON COUNCIL TO FOLLOW THE MESSAGE FROM THE FAMOUS MISTER ROGERS SONG. I WANT COUNCIL TO PROTECT OUR OUR NEIGHBORS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTY. AND I DON’T THINK THAT JUST APPLIES TO CITIZENS. I THINK THAT WE HAVE A MOMENT IN FRONT OF US THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHEREIN PEOPLE DON’T FEEL AS SAFE, A SENSE OF SECURITY AND SAFETY. AND THEY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THIS COUNTY MAY BE COOPERATING WITH ICE. SOME PUBLIC COMMENTERS WERE HOPING THAT COUNCIL WOULD VOTE IT DOWN, RESTRICTING COMMUNICATION WITH ICE REDUCES ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE ABOUT VIOLENT OFFENDERS, GANG MEMBERS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH FEDERAL WARRANTS AND UNHIDDEN CONSEQUENCE TO THIS IS IT STIGMATIZES OUR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAKE UP, WHO ARE LITERALLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS HERE IN THE COUNTY. COUNCIL MEMBER DEWITT WALTON SAID HE WANTED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THE COUNTY TO ARREST ICE AGENTS FOR VIOLATING SOMEONE’S RIGHTS. HE VOTED NO ON THE ORDINANCE TONIGHT BECAUSE HE SAID IT DOESN’T CHANGE ANYTHING.
Allegheny County Council passes ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE
Updated: 9:25 AM EDT Mar 11, 2026
Allegheny County Council voted Tuesday night to approve an ordinance limiting cooperation between county employees and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.The ordinance passed 11-3, with one abstention, after more than four hours of discussion and public comment.Council President Pat Catena abstained from the vote after calling in from home. Catena said he did so because someone came to his house earlier in the day and threatened his life and the life of his son over the ordinance. Allegheny County Police confirm to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they are investigating the reported threat.The ordinance essentially prohibits all county employees — not just police — from cooperating with ICE, except when required by law or court order.Following the vote, County Executive Sara Innamorato released a statement noting that the measure does not prevent federal immigration enforcement in the county.“It is important to remember that even with the passage of this ordinance, local governments, including Allegheny County, cannot stop ICE’s presence here,” Innamorato said in part. “My administration will continue to work alongside immigrant and refugee-serving organizations to support their work.”Many of the people who attended the meeting urged council to pass the ordinance. “I want council to protect our neighbors and the people who live in this county,” said Tanisha Long from Crafton Heights. “And I don’t think that just applies to citizens. I think that we have a moment in front of us that is very dangerous, wherein people don’t feel safe, a sense of security and safety, and they believe that people who work for this county may be cooperating with ICE.”Others did not want the ordinance. “Restricting communication with ICE reduces access to intelligence about violent offenders, gang members and individuals with federal warrants,” the speaker said. “An unhidden consequence to this is it stigmatizes our legal immigrants who make up literally tens of thousands of legal immigrants here in the county,” said Russell Dryer from Bloomfield.The vote came after hours of debate between members and testimony from residents, both supporting and opposing the policy.
PITTSBURGH —
Allegheny County Council voted Tuesday night to approve an ordinance limiting cooperation between county employees and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The ordinance passed 11-3, with one abstention, after more than four hours of discussion and public comment.
Council President Pat Catena abstained from the vote after calling in from home. Catena said he did so because someone came to his house earlier in the day and threatened his life and the life of his son over the ordinance.
Allegheny County Police confirm to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they are investigating the reported threat.
The ordinance essentially prohibits all county employees — not just police — from cooperating with ICE, except when required by law or court order.
Following the vote, County Executive Sara Innamorato released a statement noting that the measure does not prevent federal immigration enforcement in the county.
“It is important to remember that even with the passage of this ordinance, local governments, including Allegheny County, cannot stop ICE’s presence here,” Innamorato said in part. “My administration will continue to work alongside immigrant and refugee-serving organizations to support their work.”
Many of the people who attended the meeting urged council to pass the ordinance.
“I want council to protect our neighbors and the people who live in this county,” said Tanisha Long from Crafton Heights. “And I don’t think that just applies to citizens. I think that we have a moment in front of us that is very dangerous, wherein people don’t feel safe, a sense of security and safety, and they believe that people who work for this county may be cooperating with ICE.”
Others did not want the ordinance.
“Restricting communication with ICE reduces access to intelligence about violent offenders, gang members and individuals with federal warrants,” the speaker said.
“An unhidden consequence to this is it stigmatizes our legal immigrants who make up literally tens of thousands of legal immigrants here in the county,” said Russell Dryer from Bloomfield.
The vote came after hours of debate between members and testimony from residents, both supporting and opposing the policy.