By Jack Tomczuk<\/p>\n
The relationship between Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and a group called No ICE Philly<\/a> appeared to be thawing \u2013 at least a little bit \u2013 as immigrant advocates rallied outside her office Tuesday.<\/p>\n Organizers were there to deliver a virtual petition<\/a> to Bilal, signed by more than 5,300 people, and one of the demands for a meeting between No ICE Philly and the Sheriff\u2019s Office, had already been met.<\/p>\n Then, Bilal, who spoke to reporters inside moments after the demonstration wrapped up, accused one of the group\u2019s leaders, Aniqa Raihan, of spreading lies in an attempt to grab headlines.<\/p>\n \u201cFor No ICE Philly to come to this, in reference to the stands that I make, I don\u2019t know what their problem is,\u201d she said. \u201cI don\u2019t do this for any publicity. But I think they do.\u201d<\/p>\n Bilal said she has requested evidence from the organization to support their allegations that her deputies are cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. So far, such proof has not materialized, she added.<\/p>\n Raihan, during the rally, characterized the meeting between the sides, which occurred Monday, as a positive first step. Bilal, she went on, agreed to examine some of No ICE Philly\u2019s recommendations and respond by the end of the month.<\/p>\n The advocates asked the Sheriff\u2019s Office to close a \u201cloophole\u201d that allows ICE officers to gain access to court buildings by claiming to be from the Drug Enforcement Agency, ATF or other federal law enforcement agency.<\/p>\n In addition, they want Bilal to prohibit immigration agents from showing up in masks and plainclothes; ban apprehensions on courthouse sidewalks and entryways; have deputies protect legal observers and civilians filming arrests; and produce monthly reports about ICE activity in the courts.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of their demands, they were asking us to do something illegal, which we are not going to break the law,\u201d Bilal said.<\/p>\n Among the petition\u2019s demands is that the Sheriff\u2019s Office ban ICE from entering courthouses, which are open to the public. Bilal said her deputies do not have that authority.<\/p>\n Deputies also have no power to police public areas, privately-owned parking garages or other areas outside court buildings, the sheriff added.<\/p>\n The Sheriff\u2019s Office, under a policy issued in January 2025, prohibits immigration arrests inside or on the grounds of the courthouse, and deputies are prohibited from sharing information with ICE. Bilal said she has no reason to believe any of her officers are collaborating with the agency.<\/p>\n No ICE Philly claims federal law enforcement has handcuffed 114 individuals in the vicinity of the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice (CJC) since President Donald Trump\u2019s second term began. The Sheriff\u2019s Office provides security at CJC and other First Judicial District court buildings.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last year, I have watched as ICE stalks and kidnaps our community members outside the courthouse, depriving them of their constitutional right to due process,\u201d remarked Lenore Ramos, community defense organizer for Juntos<\/a>, a South Philadelphia-based immigrant advocacy organization.<\/p>\n Immigrants have consequently grown fearful of participating in the criminal justice system, including as victims and witnesses, leaders of the District Attorney\u2019s Office and Defender Association have said<\/a>.<\/p>\n The all-volunteer No ICE Philly formed in September, and soon after, it focused on ICE\u2019s operations surrounding the CJC and the sheriff\u2019s role<\/a>. It held protests targeting Bilal in November and December.<\/p>\n