ICE Out legislation

Daughter of Caribbean immigrants, urged passage, saying the package puts 'One Philly' into law.

Spoke against sanctuary policies, saying sanctuary cities attack national sovereignty and criticizing federal immigration policy under the prior administration.

A domestic worker and mother of three, described fear of ICE raids and asked Council for stronger protections so families can use libraries and rec centers without fear.

A restaurant workers' committee leader, described community fear of masked agents and unmarked cars and endorsed the ICE Out package.

An ICE Watch volunteer with Juntos, described witnessing violent arrests at the courthouse and urged Council to pass and enforce the legislation.

A pastor and child of Egyptian immigrants, urged passage of the ICE Out package as an expression of loving one's neighbor.

Read testimony for a Cambodian refugee business owner, urging passage so second chances and family unity are protected.

Supported the resolution, tying immigrant protections to the city's growth, housing and job creation goals.

With Asian Americans United, thanked Council for the package but warned the work must continue through committee and final votes.

A former immigration judge whose parents fled Nazi Germany, described erosion of the immigration courts and said local institutions must step up.

With the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, asked members to imagine never seeing an immigrant loved one again and applauded the package.

A clinical psychologist, described lasting trauma from ICE raids on children and families and urged bold protective measures.

Read testimony for an immigrant coworker who feared attending in person, describing survival mode and urging care over cages.

A mother and community member, showed drawings by citizen children forced to 'self-deport' with their parents and asked uncommitted members to sign on.

An Ethiopian American organizer, became emotional describing her father's deportation and 20-year family separation, urging protection of Black immigrants.

A Penn graduate, read testimony for a Vietnamese American classmate and described how ICE activity destabilizes the city's economy and culture.

A Malaysian-born citizen and father, described his fear for family and democracy and asked Council to fight for the ICE Out package.

A Germantown resident and clergyman, rejected the term 'illegal,' invoked sanctuary traditions, and asked the city and mayor's office to stand in visible solidarity.

An immigrant who came from civil war, described her own childhood family separation in 1963 and urged an end to ICE separations.

A lawyer and granddaughter of immigrants, argued anti-discrimination protections for immigrants also protect all workers and tenants from exploitation.

A school nurse and South Philly parent, described preparing students and her own son for possible ICE encounters and urged passage to protect children.

A United Methodist pastor, cited scripture's command to welcome the stranger and tied the legislation to the civil rights legacy of immigration law.

An Indonesian Catholic chaplain, described fear in his South Philly community and implored Council to defend immigrant residents.

A fourth-generation chattel slavery survivor, argued Council cannot work around federal law and urged equal ambition in addressing the badges of slavery.