Philadelphia Council wants to end pact with immigration officers

Philadelphia City Council is trying to end a deal that is resulting in immigrants being deported.

The current agreement requires the city of Philadelphia to provide arrest information to the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs enforcement or ICE. A non-binding resolution introduced by council members Jim Kenney and Maria Quinones Sanchez calls for the city to put an end to the contract with federal officials when it expires Aug. 31. Councilman Kenney says only criminals who are here illegally should be deported.

“This is not Texas, this is not Arizona this is the city of Philadelphia, the home of freedom in this country and we should treat people with some decency,” he said.

Philadelphia police representatives say they will do whatever Mayor Michael Nutter says. The mayor’s spokesman says changes made to the agreement in 2010 limit data about victims and witnesses. There will be a review of the issue over the summer to determine if further steps are necessary.