Philly City Councilmembers unveil ‘ICE OUT’ bills to limit agent activities here

After months of federal ICE agents being involved in confrontations with Americans all across the country, lawmakers in Philadelphia are stepping forward with legislation aimed at limiting how agents for the Department of Homeland Security can operate within the limits of the City of Brotherly Love.

On Tuesday morning, City Councilmember-at-large, Kendra Brooks, a member of the Working Families party, along with Democratic City Councilmember-at-large, Rue Landau joined members from a variety of community groups in calling for ICE to end its activities in the city.

But, more than that, the lawmakers unveiled a legislative package aimed at making sure ICE agents are held accountable for their actions and their activities are limited.

“Every time [President Donald] Trump tries to trample on our rights, we come together as Philadelphians and we stand up and we fight back. And, that’s what we are doing here today,” said Brooks.

During the morning event, both City Councilmembers referenced the recent ICE-involved slayings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good — who were both recently killed by federal agents during ICE activities in Minneapolis, Minnesota — and noted that the time was ripe to take action.

In fact, for Brooks, standing silent amid ICE’s recent actions, was not an option.

“So, I’m taking action,” she said.

The action is a legislative package that officials are calling “ICE OUT,” and Brooks said the bills focus on several goals:

• This legislation, she said, prevents ICE agents from hiding their identities with masks and unmarked vehicles
• Brooks said the legislation prohibits ICE from using city-owned property for staging raids
• The legislation, she said, prohibits the city from collaborations with ICE on data through 287(g) agreements.

“With this ICE OUT legislation, we are doing everything within the city’s power to limit ICE activities in Philadelphia and get ICE out of our city,” she said.

In taking the stage outside of City Hall on Tuesday, Landau led a cheer of “ICE Out!” before recalling the slaying of Good and Pretti, saying that this legislation is intended to protect Philadelphia residents from falling victim to similar actions.

In fact, according to Landau, the tactics that she has seen employed by ICE in Minnesota and elsewhere do nothing to make American citizens safer.

“They have only made or neighbors afraid to go to work and school, afraid to seek medical care, afraid to call 9-1-1 when they need help,” she said. “And, fear is not public safety. Trust is.”

Philly DA vows to prosecute ‘Nazis’

Finally, before the gathered crowd began a march along Market Street, headed to a satellite office for Pa. Senator John Fetterman — to demand the senator vote against a new package of federal funding for ICE — Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner addressed the audiance to discuss the challenges that those who call for an end to ICE activities face.

But, he also ensured those who call for an end to ICE activities have the law on their side.

“We are up against people who, simply put, find the law inconvenient, because, heaven forbid the Constitution would limit their desires at unlimited power,” he said. “We are going to fight against federal overreach,” Krasner said.

As a prosecutor sworn to uphold the law, Krasner said he would always work to ensure Philadelphia residents Constitutional rights will not be violated by federal agents. And, he said people have the right to film ICE agent activities, going as far as calling those who film ICE agents ‘courageous,” especially when incidents have turned deadly.

“This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis, that’s what they are, in a country of 350 million,” Krasner said. “We outnumber them and as long as we stuck to our values, protect our rights, make it very clear that homicide is not okay just because you are a federal officer. If we do that, this will end differently.”

And, Krasner said, those who oppose ICE activities aren’t alone. According to the district attorney, fellow prosecutors like himself, all across the country are rallying around Mary Moriarty, the county attorney for Minneapolis, Minnesota to ensure that any federal agent who commits a crime will be held accountable for their actions.

“If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities. We will find you. We will achieve justice,” he said.

The ICE OUT legislative package is set to be presented before City Council on Thursday.

The package will need to be reviewed and approved by the full City Council before it would make its way to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s desk to become law.