New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia

Arizona’s SB 1070, brought national attention to the growing immigration crisis in the United States.  Arizona’s attempt to respond to this crisis was misguided and threatened the civil and human rights of all people, not just immigrants.  All over the country, communities are struggling in the face of increased local enforcement of federal immigration law.  As we urge the federal government to pass a just and humane Comprehensive Immigration Reform, cities and state are increasingly reliant on local law officers to enforce federal immigration law.  We are deeply concerned about the negative impact of any policies that put local police in the position of enforcing or aiding enforcement of federal immigration law.

Our goal is to end all collaboration between the Philadelphia Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In Philadelphia collaboration between the police and ICE happens in two different ways. The first is through the Secure Communities Program.  The second, is a contract between  ICE  and the City of Philadelphia granting ICE access to the PARS database, which lists the country of origin of everyone in police custody at any given moment.

The results of these programs are that nearly all undocumented immigrants, and sometimes documented immigrants arrested in the city, regardless of their charges, end up in deportation proceedings. Many immigrants arrested for minor crimes or misdemeanors such as traffic violations or jay-walking, never stand trial for their supposed offenses, but are immediately passed to ICE and put into deportation proceedings.

These practices have drastically diminished immigrant communities’ trust in the police department.  New Sanctuary Movement in conjunction with JUNTOS/ Casa de los Soles and Philadelphia Story Telling Project, hosted a Public Forum in late June where community leaders shared their testimonies about the negative impact of these programs on our lives and our community.

We are calling for the End of all policies that encourage collaboration between the police and ICE, the termination of the contract that allows ICE access to PARS, and  that Philadelphia opt out of the misnamed Secure Communities program.