State Sen. Art Haywood, a Democrat representing parts of Montgomery County and Philadelphia who organized Tuesday\u2019s press conference, said it is important that elected officials \u201cclearly condemn these ICE agents and their behavior.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cICE agents, if you can hear me: Do not follow these cruel orders that violate the basic dignity that we all recognize,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd for all immigrants who are terrified, traumatized by what they see on television and in these neighborhoods: We stand with you.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
ICE activity in the region is not at the scale of the operations seen in Minneapolis, said state Sen. Katie Muth, who represents Lower Providence Township and other parts of Montgomery County, as well as parts of Berks and Chester counties. But she described immigration enforcement agents\u2019 arrests in the area as \u201can invasion nevertheless.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve received phone calls from school teachers whose students get dropped off in the morning and their parents are detained after dropping off their kids at school,\u201d she said. \u201cThis has been ongoing since the Trump administration has taken office, and I think that Project 2025 was very clear in its intentions, and we are living \u2026 the reality of that nightmare right now.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
Muth said ICE agents\u2019 tactics should be a concern to all people, citizens and noncitizens alike.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you think that this can\u2019t happen to you, you\u2019re wrong,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you allow this kind of unlawful behavior without due process to happen to one person, it can happen to anyone.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Immigration enforcement agents also behaved in an \u201cunlawful and inhumane\u201d manner during another ICE raid last week in Phoenixville<\/a>, Muth said.\n<\/p>\n