Here is a message being sent today to all Pennsylvania Senators, calling for them to vote NO to SB 1885. This is legislation that would discriminate against immigrants in Pennsylvania. It will be accompanied by a letter signed by over 200 faith leaders in Pennsylvania. That letter can be found here.
As the Senate prepares to vote on HB 1885, over 220 Pennsylvania faith leaders, including 4 Bishops, urge all Pennsylvania State Senators to vote NO to HB 1885.
HB 1885 would force state and local law enforcement to serve as immigration enforcement officers and comply with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer to hold immigrants in custody. This bill spreads fear, hate, and xenophobia and would not make communities in Pennsylvania any safer. HB 1885 reverses years of intentional, community-based policing efforts that are vital to public safety in neighborhoods across the state.
Pennsylvania faith leaders signed onto this letter, urging all State Senators to stop HB 1885 and any other anti-immigrant proposals. HB 1885 sends a message that Pennsylvania cares more about deporting immigrants than about community safety. This bill also would unfairly punish local police departments for not detaining someone simply because they are believed to be undocumented. Any locality with limited ICE detainer policies would lose all state funding that supports assistance programs for all Pennsylvanians, like domestic violence services, drug and alcohol treatment, and services for people with disabilities.
HB 1885 would separate more families and weaken local community policing efforts. As faith leaders, we call on you to uphold our state’s moral authority and reject HB 1885.
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