Pennsylvania
A high-level overview of immigration enforcement activity, school protection policies, and resources for families and educators in Pennsylvania.
Overview
State context
Pennsylvania has mixed policies by locality. Philadelphia has long-standing sanctuary city policies and has resisted federal pressure to cooperate with ICE. Philadelphia School District has adopted formal protective policies. Pittsburgh has also taken a more welcoming stance. However, the state government and many municipalities outside major cities have cooperated with enforcement.
ICE activity
ICE is active in Pennsylvania, particularly in Philadelphia, in the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Bethlehem, Reading), and in communities along the I-78/I-83 corridor. Reading has one of the highest proportions of Latino residents of any city in the Northeast and has been the site of significant enforcement operations.
School policies
Philadelphia School District has formal policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement and requires judicial warrants before staff cooperate with enforcement requests. The district has issued training and guidance for staff. Pittsburgh schools have adopted welcoming practices. The rest of the state is largely unprotected at the district level.
Notes for advocates
Reading, Pennsylvania, has a Puerto Rican (U.S. citizen) and Dominican immigrant community that has faced significant economic challenges alongside immigration enforcement pressure on mixed-status families. The Lehigh Valley has large immigrant communities tied to warehouse and distribution work. Philadelphia's robust legal aid community and sanctuary policies provide significant protection.
Is your district protected?
Find out whether your school district has a warrant-based policy in place, and what you can do if it doesn't.