Immigration enforcement operations across the U.S. – and the backlash they have sparked in some communities – have prompted local officials and state lawmakers in Pennsylvania to advance competing proposals over “sanctuary” policies and cooperation with federal authorities.
Dozens of immigration-related bills have been proposed or introduced in Harrisburg – and the debate is largely split along party lines. Democratic proposals generally seek to restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and expand protections for all residents regardless of immigration status, while Republican proposals tend to push in the opposite direction.
Given the narrow split in the legislature, many party-line measures face a difficult path to becoming law.
Meanwhile, officials in Philadelphia and the Pittsburgh region – via Allegheny County Council – are weighing proposals to limit cooperation with federal authorities at the local level.
The state writ large has avoided sanctuary designation, and Pittsburgh was recently removed from the U.S. Department of Justice Sanctuary Jurisdictions List; however, Philadelphia remains.
