Legislation aimed at limiting the ability of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) dominated the January 29th session of Philadelphia City Council.
Councilmembers Rue Landau and Kendra Brooks introduced the package of bills and resolutions in response to ICE activities across the country, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The strongest stance any branch of the city’s government has taken on ICE, it remains to be seen if Mayor Cherelle Parker, who to date has been conspicuously silent on the possibility of ICE ramping up its activity in Philadelphia, will sign the legislation or allow it to become law without her signature. With 15 co-sponsors, the legislation is essentially veto-proof without several defections.
According to information provided by Landau and Brooks’ offices, the legislation does the following:
Prohibits ICE and other law enforcement agents from concealing their identities with face masks or unmarked vehicles and requires officers to display badges
Codifies executive orders banning 287(g) agreements, which allow local police to act as ICE agents (287(g) agreements refer to cooperation arrangements made between ICE and local law enforcment.)
Prohibits city agencies from collaborating with ICE
Prevents city agencies from collecting citizenship or immigration status information or sharing personal data with ICE
Prohibits discrimination or denial of services based on citizenship or immigration status by the City, employers, housing providers, or private businesses.
Prohibits ICE from using city-owned properties as staging locations for raids.
Bars city employees from granting ICE access to city-owned spaces—such as libraries, shelters, health centers, and recreation centers—without a judicial warrant.
As of now, the legislation has not been assigned to a committee for review, but the Committee of the Whole (a committee composed of every member of council, typically used for weightier issues) remains a possibility. Referring the legislation to the Committee of the Whole would allow each member the opportunity to participate in the committee hearing, while designating it to, for example, the Public Safety Committee would put the fate of the package of bills in the hands of a smaller group of councilmembers.
Activists flooded the chamber and cheered when Landau and Brooks introduced the legislation. During the public comment section of the meeting, many spoke about their fear of ICE and its impact on their lives and families. There was scant public opposition to the package of bills.
Modelled on legislation introduced in other jurisdictions intended to limit ICE access, the package of bills is one of the largest and most comprehensive yet offered anywhere in the country.
Gilmore Richardson Call for Education Hearing
Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the decrease in Black student enrollment at School District of Philadelphia special admission schools.”
According to the resolution, Black enrollment at the Academy at Palumbo has decreased from 47% Black to 24.5% over the last ten years, and Carver High School of Engineering has seen a drop rom 76% to 55.7% over the same period. Overall, 14 of the 21 special admission schools have seen a decrease in Black student enrollment over the past decade.
The district has changed its admissions criteria several times over the last five years, including creating a citywide lottery aimed at students from underrepresented zip codes, adding a sibling preference, and accepting only certain standardized tests. Seven of the district’s special admission high schools have seen an increase in enrollment.
Legislation Passed at Thursday’s Council Meeting
Bill No. 260034
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Jones
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 134, 138, and 140 N 58th St
located in the 4th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The
Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260036
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Lozada
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2039 E. Fletcher Street located in the 7th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260037
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Lozada
Resolution approving the Third Amendment to Redevelopment Agreement of the Philadelphia
Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, designated as Revised Parcel No. 8, Revised Parcel No. 9 and Parcel No. 10A, also sometimes identified by house numbers and street addresses for Revised Parcel No. 8 as 1700-34 N. American Street, for Revised Parcel No. 9 as 1703-69 N. Bodine Street (including 229-33 Cecil B. Moore Avenue), and for Parcel No. 10A as 1736-54 N. American Street; and authorizing the Redevelopment Authority to execute the Third Amendment to Redevelopment Agreement with 1700 North American Street, LLC and to take such action as may be necessary to effectuate the Third Amendment to Redevelopment Agreement.
Bill No. 260039
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Young
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1909 N. Van Pelt Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260040
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Young
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1437, 1438, 1539, 1544, 1546, and1610 Ogden St; 863 N 15th St; 841, 845, and 851 N 16th Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260041
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Young
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1802-04 N. Franklin Street, 1803,1807-25 N. 8th Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260042
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Young
Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1403, 1409, 1415, 1428, 1436,
1441 N. 17th Street, 1624, 1626 Jefferson Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District in
accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
Bill No. 260045
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Squilla for Council President Johnson
Resolution honoring Father Joseph J. Kelley by renaming the 2400 block of South 17th Street as
“Father Joseph Kelley Way” in recognition of his dedicated Pastoral leadership at Saint Monica
Parish and his longstanding service to the South Philadelphia community.
Bill No. 260046
INTRODUCED BY: Councilmember Bass
Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 2726 N. 15th Street in the 8th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia
Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
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