Local Bill in Pennsylvania’s York City Aims to Re-establish Trust Between Immigrant Families and Law Enforcement for Safer Communities
18 DECEMBER 2024, YORK CITY, PA – Immigrant families celebrated as York City Council voted 3-2 to pass Bill No. 47 “Welcoming and Access to Immigrants and Refugees.” The initiative, referred to in the community as the TRUST Act or Acta de Confianza, seeks to build community trust by ending voluntary information sharing with ICE for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement. Under the bill, City employees cannot inquire about immigration status when a victim reports a crime, a driver faces a traffic stop, or a parent enrolls their child in school. In addition, this law requires ICE to have a warrant for city employees to provide information and prohibits employees from aiding that federal agency to locate York’s immigrant residents.
The core of the ordinance requires that “Officials and employees of the City… treat all persons equally and without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability to speak English…” York Mayor Michael Helfrich has 10 days to sign or veto the bill.
With over 173,000 lifetime members across 46 US states, CASA is a national powerhouse organization building power and improving the quality of life in working-class: Black, Latino/a/e, Afro-descendent, Indigenous, and Immigrant communities. CASA creates change with its power building model blending human services, community organizing, and advocacy in order to serve the full spectrum of the needs, dreams, and aspirations of members. www.wearecasa.org