Allegheny County bans police ICE cooperation
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Allegheny County Council passed a bill prohibiting county police from assisting ICE.
Why it matters: ICE arrests have risen sharply since the start of President Trump's second term, including a growing number in Pittsburgh involving immigrants without local criminal charges — some with work permits or pending asylum claims.
Driving the news: County Council voted 11-3 with one abstention to restrict cooperation with federal immigration officials during a meeting Tuesday night.
Zoom in: Unless required by state or federal law, the bill bars county police and county workers from:
- Assisting ICE or Border Patrol with enforcement "in any capacity"
- Asking about residents' immigration status
- Contracting with federal authorities to share county data for immigration enforcement
- Retaining citizenship information on county documents for more than 60 days
Context: The county already has a policy limiting cooperation with ICE, but council members sought to codify those rules into law.
What they're saying: Councilwoman at-large Bethany Hallam (D-North Side), who supports the ban, has said sheriff's deputies assisted ICE operations.
- "Policies are not laws, and resolutions are not laws. We got elected to make laws," said Hallam.
The other side: Amendments from council members Aaron Adams (D-Duquesne) and Suzanne Filiaggi (R-Wexford) to exempt the sheriff's office and add a Jan. 1, 2029, expiration date to the bill were voted down.
By the numbers: More than 800 immigrants were detained in Pittsburgh's ICE holding cells last year — an eightfold increase from the prior year. About 20% had a criminal record, per the Post-Gazette.
What's next: County Executive Sara Innamorato said she will sign the bill into law, per a statement.