ICE latest: Here’s what to know in the Philadelphia region, from immigration agreements and operations to protests and pushback

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker fought to keep secret a letter her administration sent to the U.S. Department of Justice last August in response to the Trump administration’s demands that the city end its “sanctuary city” policies. 

The letter stated that Philadelphia “is firmly committed to supporting our immigrant communities and remaining a welcoming city,” and does not have any laws that violate or obstruct federal immigration enforcement. 

District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office will prosecute ICE agents who commit crimes and formed a national coalition of district attorneys willing to prosecute any federal law enforcement officials who commit crimes. 

Krasner has called for protections at the Criminal Justice Center, where ICE has arrested an increasing number of people, according to advocates. More than 5,000 people signed a petition that immigrant rights groups presented to Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, asking her to curtail ICE arrests in and around the courthouse. 

Bilal has said her office does not cooperate with immigration enforcement officers and does not permit ICE arrests in the courthouse. But she said activists’ demands are not feasible because she lacks legal authority over arrests outside the building. 

Following the January death of Upper Darby resident Parady La, who died in ICE custody, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania filed a Freedom of Information Act and joined La’s family members and advocates in demanding an investigation.

After an ICE raid in Montgomery County’s Lower Providence Township on Feb. 9, county officials denounced the operation as “brutal” and “cruel,” while advocates called for an investigation and demanded stronger protections for immigrants at the municipal, county and state levels.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County released a statement later that week clarifying that police departments throughout the county do not enforce civil immigration orders. The statement said a judge must sign all enforceable warrants, and noted that no police departments in Montgomery County participate in 287(g) collaboration agreements with ICE. It also outlined several other policies related to ICE.

In March, the Montgomery County board of commissioners approved a resolution restricting federal civil immigration enforcement on county property.

Bucks County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 18 to oppose the use of warehouses in the county for ICE detention centers, following “credible” reports that DHS was looking to purchase warehouses in the area. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Bucks, said he opposed converting warehouses into detention centers in his district, and said DHS told his office there are no plans to open a detention facility in Bucks County.

More than a dozen Delaware organizations sent a letter to Gov. Matt Meyer and the state General Assembly in early February, asking for stronger protections around local law enforcement sharing information with ICE and other federal immigration enforcement officers. The requests came after a story by Spotlight Delaware revealed that Sussex County’s Laurel Police Department created a list of addresses where Haitian immigrants “believed to be undocumented” spent their time, and then shared those addresses with the FBI in January 2025.

“Formal and informal cooperation with ICE is a pervasive issue within Delaware,” the letter reads. “State and local law enforcement have not stopped cooperation through internal policy and conversations.”

In February, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched a government-run portal for residents to upload videos of immigration enforcement activity.

Sherill also signed an executive order prohibiting ICE from carrying out civil immigration enforcement on state property. In response, the Trump administration is suing New Jersey, alleging that, via the order, Sherill “insists on harboring criminal offenders from federal law enforcement.”

Sherill has also said she supports enshrining the state’s Immigrant Trust Directive into law.

Following the arrest of three immigrant workers at a Trenton auto shop on Feb. 20, a New Jersey immigrant rights group is calling on local authorities to investigate the tactics used in the operation.

Of the more than 60 local law enforcement agencies participating in the 287(g) program in Pennsylvania, only two are in Greater Philadelphia.

Currently, the Lansdowne Borough Constable’s Office in Lansdowne, Delaware County, has a 287(g) agreement with ICE under its task force model, as does the Pennsylvania State Constable Office Honey Brook Precinct 1, in Chester County, according to ICE’s online database.

In 2025, the Bucks County Sheriff’s Office was the most high-profile local agency in Philadelphia and its suburbs that signed a collaboration agreement with ICE through the 287(g) program. The move was met with a lawsuit and widespread pushback from community members and elected officials.

In January, newly elected Democratic Sheriff Danny Ceisler officially ended that agreement. Under the previous Sheriff Fred Harran, sheriff’s deputies received training from ICE, but Ceisler said the office never fully implemented the program.

There are no local law enforcement agencies participating in 287(g) collaboration agreements with ICE. Last spring, Camden Police Department in Central Delaware entered into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. The agency quickly reversed course and backed out following community pushback.

There are no local law enforcement agencies participating in 287(g) collaboration agreements with ICE.

In January, the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus called for a state House vote on several measures designed to protect immigrant rights and hold federal immigration agents accountable.

State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester County, has issued a co-sponsorship memo for a bill that would prohibit local law enforcement in Pennsylvania from signing on to 287(g) agreements.

Pennsylvania State Police operate under an internal policy that limits cooperation with ICE and instructs state police to not comply with ICE administrative detainers. However, state police are allowed to “provide pertinent information” to ICE at its discretion. Advocates are pushing Gov. Josh Shapiro to strengthen the state trooper policy and end ICE access to state databases without a judicial warrant, among other measures.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Council members introduced legislative measures codifying the city’s “sanctuary status” and ensuring local police do not enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE. Another proposed bill bans ICE agents from wearing masks and using unmarked vehicles.

Bucks County

While announcing his office’s withdrawal from the 287(g) agreement in January, Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler said he has also instituted a policy prohibiting sheriff’s deputies from asking victims of and witnesses to crimes, as well as court observers, about their immigration status.

Ceisler also stated the county is “not a sanctuary county,” and its Department of Corrections continues to share data with ICE.

Bucks County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 18 to oppose the use of warehouses in the county for ICE detention centers, following “credible” reports that DHS was looking to purchase warehouses in the area.   U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Bucks, also said he opposed converting warehouses into detention centers in his district, and said DHS told his office there are no plans to open a detention facility in Bucks County.

Chester County

Chester County has not made any recent changes to its policies regarding ICE. The county told WHYY News in January 2025 that Chester County Prison cooperates with ICE to the extent required by law. It also does not detain people based solely on ICE administrative detainers, per the 2014 Galarza v. Szalcyzk ruling.

Delaware County

The county has not made any recent changes to its policies regarding ICE. It does not detain people based solely on ICE administrative detainers, and abides by law and the 2014 Galarza v. Szalcyzk ruling.

Haverford Township passed legislation limiting its police department’s cooperation with ICE, and on Feb. 18, Upper Darby Township passed a resolution limiting local law enforcement collaboration with ICE civil immigration enforcement.

Montgomery County

In March, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution restricting federal civil immigration enforcement on county property.

The legislation also codified the county’s internal policy, passed in June 2025, that prohibits county employees from cooperating with federal immigration officials unless legally required to do so. The measure also reinforces the county’s commitment to not enter into a 287(g) collaboration agreement with ICE.

Also in June 2025, the Montgomery County Correctional Facility said it will no longer honor ICE detainer requests without a judicial warrant.

Following an ICE raid in Lower Providence Township that sparked widespread outrage among elected officials and community members, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County released a statement clarifying that police departments throughout the county do not enforce civil immigration orders. The statement said a judge must sign all enforceable warrants, and noted that no police departments in Montgomery County participate in 287(g) collaboration agreements with ICE. It also outlined several other policies related to ICE.

To date, at least seven municipalities, including Narberth Borough, Cheltenham Township, Ambler Borough, West Norriton Township and Norristown Municipality, have either released statements or passed legislation expressing their support for immigrant residents and/or limiting local law enforcement’s cooperation with ICE. Advocates are calling on all 62 of the county’s municipalities to limit cooperation with ICE and have pushed back on some policies they say are not strong enough.

In July 2025, Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed into law legislation prohibiting local law enforcement from entering into 287(g) agreements, along with several other measures limiting federal immigration enforcement actions within the state.

In January, the General Assembly and state Senate passed three bills to enhance public safety and trust for immigrant residents, only one of which was signed into law by outgoing Gov. Phil Murphy before leaving office:

• The Safe Communities Act directs the New Jersey attorney general to develop a plan for how sensitive places — including schools, houses of worship and health care facilities — handle interactions with federal immigration agents. Officials are mandated to adopt those policies and display them in public-facing places to ensure immigrant residents are aware and encouraged to continue to frequent those places.

Murphy declined to sign the following legislation that made it to his desk, citing a “drafting oversight” in the first and fears of legal challenges to the latter:

• The Privacy Protection Act would limit data collection and sharing by the federal government and health care entities.
• The third law would codify the attorney general’s Immigrant Trust Directive, first issued in 2018, which limits state law enforcement officers from providing voluntary assistance to federal immigration authorities. That directive is still in effect, just not codified by legislation.

In February, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched a government-run portal where residents can upload videos of immigration enforcement activity.

Sherill also signed an executive order prohibiting ICE from carrying out civil immigration enforcement on state property. In response, the Trump administration is suing New Jersey, alleging that via the order, Sherill “insists on harboring criminal offenders from federal law enforcement.”