Eight immigrant advocacy organizations held a public training Tuesday night to walk Philadelphia residents through the city\u2019s new \u201cICE Out\u201d laws, saying many people still don\u2019t know what the legislation covers or how it is being enforced more than a month after it took effect.<\/p>\n
The session at Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School covered what the laws restrict, which city-owned spaces are protected and what residents can do if they believe city employees have violated the rules. Organizers said the training was necessary because the city has not adequately communicated how the laws work in practice.<\/p>\n
What the laws restrict<\/p>\n
The \u201cICE Out\u201d package places new limits on federal immigration enforcement activity in city-owned spaces and restricts how city employees can cooperate with immigration agents. Among other provisions, ICE agents cannot enter city-owned spaces without a judicial warrant, and city employees face limits on when they can assist federal immigration authorities.<\/p>\n
Elena Emelchin Brunner, an immigration justice organizer at Asian Americans United, said the legislation aims to keep communities safe while ensuring local resources stay focused on local needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started meeting over a year ago with a couple different immigration justice organizations and some of the lawyers that we work with, and we wanted a way to at least protect our community members as much as possible, especially in places that are public and are paid for by our public tax dollars,\u201d Emelchin Brunner said.<\/p>\n
Emelchin Brunner led the training alongside Caitlin Barry, an immigration lawyer and law professor at Villanova University. They walked attendees through the package\u2019s restrictions and how they translate into practice, including an exercise that tested understanding of the new rules by presenting scenarios involving ICE interactions with city employees.<\/p>\n
Community groups fill the information gap<\/p>\n
The training was organized by the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, Asian Americans United, Juntos, VietLead, New Sanctuary Movement, The Domestic Workers Alliance, Victim\/Witness Services of South Philadelphia and Make the Road Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
Vivian Chang, executive director of Asian Americans United, said community organizations are hosting the sessions because the city has not adequately explained how the laws are being implemented.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople really need this information. Yes, they\u2019re hungry for it, but it also is just a huge gap in what\u2019s not being provided, so unfortunately, community organizations have to provide it. We\u2019re glad to do it, but also what we really need is the city to step up and enforce these laws,\u201d Chang said.<\/p>\n
Rhiannon Newcomer, a member of Concerned Pilipino Americans in Philadelphia, attended the training to learn more. CPAP works with migrant communities and has been distributing flyers about the legislation, which Newcomer said people find confusing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy biggest takeaway from this is, there\u2019s just a lot of unanswered questions, and the city is not telling people what\u2019s happening,\u201d Newcomer said.<\/p>\n
Groups press City Hall for enforcement details<\/p>\n