ICE Funding and Activity in Allegheny County and Surrounding Areas

Impact on Law Enforcement and Cooperation:

• Recent federal spending package includes over $2 billion to support local and state agencies that partner with ICE in immigration enforcement efforts. Several agencies near Allegheny County are participating in this program: Butler County Sheriff's office, Washington County Sheriff's office, Constable offices in Westmoreland County's Sewickley Township and Lower Burrell Fourth Ward, Fayette County. Allegheny County Jail has does not have a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and does not hold individuals solely for ICE detainers. However, ACJ does honor ICE detainer requests and administrative warrants, typically for a maximum of 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) to allow ICE to assume custody.
• Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, and local involvement can strain resources and potentially expose municipalities to legal challenges, especially if mistakes occur. In 2015, Allegheny County settled for $25,000 and agreed to cease honoring ICE detainer requests lacking judicial approval. This decision followed a Third Circuit ruling that deemed ICE detainers as mere requests, not binding commands, potentially holding local municipalities liable for wrongful detentions.

Impact on Immigrant Communities:

• Increased ICE enforcement, potentially fueled by new funding, has generated fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities in Allegheny County. Immigrants report fear of leaving their homes for essential tasks, and some students have stopped attending school.
• Concerns about potential ICE activity have led to the cancellation of community events, such as Pittsburgh's International Parade, Festival, and World Cup, demonstrating a chilling effect on community life.
• Organizations like the ACLU of Pennsylvania express concerns that ICE actions may lead to indiscriminate detentions, including those of legal immigrants and citizens.

Government Response and "Sanctuary City"

• Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh have been identified as "sanctuary jurisdictions" by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has threatened to withhold federal funding from non-compliant jurisdictions.

Economic and Social Implications

• Immigrants are recognized for their significant economic contributions to the Pittsburgh metro area, including paying taxes and contributing to various industries.
• Increased ICE raids disrupt the workforce, impacting industries reliant on immigrant labor.
• Federal funding cuts negatively impact organizations providing services to immigrants to support vulnerable individuals, increasing the burden on local public systems.

What you can do. Below is a list of organizations that support immigrant communities locally. You can volunteer, make the list available to people who need it, show up to obstruct illegal search and seizure of community members.

(Names of organizations below are links to their websites)

• 412-343-3111 Casa San Jose – Social services, community health and wellness and organizing, youth programs, education and professional development for the Latino community
• 412-904-5966 Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) – legal services
• 412-422-7200 Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) – resettlement services
• 742.4200 Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC) - multi-agency partnership that connects immigrants living in Allegheny County with resources
• 412-456-6999 Catholic Charities – emotional support, case management
• The Disappeared – resources for people helping those who have been deported
• ICE Block - anonymous crowdsourced platform to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity with from their phone.
• Moshannon Valley Processing Center – privately owned detention center in Phillipsburg, PA website lists methods to contact/provide items for a detainee on this site
• ICE in Pittsburgh – enforcement and removal operations 3000 Sidney Street Suite 100