Urge Gov. Shapiro to End ICE Collaboration!
The Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC) has organized the past few months to urge members and allies to call and email Governor Shapiro to stop state-level collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Use this tool to add your voice by sending a personalized email to the Governor asking him to use his power to stand in solidarity with our immigrant communities.
Recent months have seen an unprecedented crackdown of immigration enforcement by the federal government, resulting in massive numbers of arrests and detentions across the country, and here in Pennsylvania. Our immigrant and refugee neighbors are living in fear, as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates in an increasingly militarized fashion, with little accountability. The passage of H.R. 1 adds $170 billion for immigration enforcement. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center explains, “nothing in federal law requires localities to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act and regulations. To the contrary, immigration regulation and enforcement are federal functions. The Tenth Amendment precludes federal government from coercing state or local governments to use their resources to enforce a federal regulatory program, like immigration.”
Governor Josh Shapiro and his state administration have the power to curtail ICE operations in Pennsylvania by not allowing them access to state databases, law enforcement, and resources. Immigrants, citizens, and allies are standing with our immigrant neighbors and communities to call on the Governor to end state collaboration with ICE, asserting his constitutional powers to keep communities safer, and to help make Pennsylvania a place where all can thrive. We know that immigrants make Pennsylvania stronger and a more vibrant place to call home.
When residents feel that their immigration status may put them at risk of discrimination or deportation, they are less likely to cooperate with police, report crimes, or seek help when needed. By ensuring that everyone in the Commonwealth, regardless of their background, is treated with dignity and respect, the state would foster better communication and cooperation between law enforcement and the public, ultimately making our communities safer for all.
Fill out the form, which will take you to a message asking Governor Shapiro to:
- Remove ICE access to state databases JNET and CLEAN unless there is a judicial warrant. This includes prohibiting any third party entities to sell that information to those whose focus is enforcing federal immigration.
- End data sharing, communication and collaboration between state prisons and probation and ICE.
- Strengthen the ICE holds policy with the state police by prohibiting state police from contacting ICE and from providing assistance for immigration enforcement efforts, including parameter, traffic, or other kinds of support.
- Never lease a state facility to ICE. (Verbally PIC members were told the state would not lease in mid April 2025.)
- Within all Pennsylvania public benefit programs, collect and share only the information that is absolutely necessary under the law to be collected and shared. Be prepared to challenge any federal governmental action to use information contained in state public benefit records for immigration enforcement purposes or for any other purpose not authorized by law.
- Prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in state facilities without a judicial warrant or order
- Make the drivers license for all campaign (HB 1518) a priority by allowing your departments to demonstrate support to advance this legislation
- Issue statements and publicly welcome refugees and asylum seekers to Pennsylvania;
- Develop public messaging, webpages, and other forms of communication to inform immigrant communities about the current policies on immigrant access to health care and other public programs
Please personalize your letter with your own stories and experiences from your communities. It really does make a difference!
[Posted 8/18/2025]
