Philly mayor sent letter to Trump Admin. over immigration efforts last summer

As the country’s 250th birthday approached, Philadelphia’s mayor sent a letter trying to keep a working relationship with the Trump Administration when it comes to immigration.

Last summer, Philadelphia City Solicitor Renee Garcia wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that Philly “is firmly committed to supporting our immigrant communities and remaining a welcoming city.”

In the next sentence, Garcia wrote, “At the same time, the city does not maintain any policies or practices that violate federal immigration laws or obstruct federal immigration enforcement.”

This letter was in response to the Trump Administration labeling Philly as a sanctuary jurisdiction last summer.

Following the sanctuary city label, Bondi sent letters to all of the jurisdictions that the federal government considers as sanctuaries.

Bondi’s letter asked that these cities identify, “the immediate initiatives you are taking to eliminate laws, policies and practices that impede federal immigration enforcement.”

The NBC10 Investigators have been working to get clarity on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s stance on immigration policies in Philadelphia.

“In the United States, a sanctuary city is typically a place that limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement,” Penn professor Domenic Vitello explained.

The city’s response to Bondi’s letter was made public by the Parker Administration this week.

In addition to calling themselves a welcoming city, Garcia said that the 2016 executive order “was not designed to obstruct federal immigration laws.”

Garcia says it was in part to avoid liability of holding undocumented individuals without a judicial warrant.

She went on to say that the city has cooperated with immigration officials when presented with a judicial warrant.

Garcia also wrote about the city’s partnership with the federal government when it comes to public safety adding, “those partnerships will be particularly important as we are preparing diligently for the historic 2026 semi-quincentennial festivities celebrating America and its founding.”