Philadelphia is set to announce that it will no longer allow U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to access the city’s arrest database, citing ICE’s “inappropriate” use of the database.
Mayor Jim Kenney plans to make the official announcement Friday afternoon, ending the city’s contract with immigration officials, which allowed ICE to use Philadelphia’s Preliminary Arraignment Reporting System (PARS).
Kenney’s office has accused ICE of using the arrest database, which is constantly updated as new arrests occur, to target illegal immigrants who have not been accused or convicted of a crime. The database includes Social Security numbers and countries of origin.
“My administration engaged in dialogue with ICE in recent weeks about its use of PARS data, and rather than allay these concerns, ICE officials in fact confirmed many of them,” Kenney said in a statement. “Such practices sow fear and distrust in Philadelphia’s great immigrant community, and make it more difficult for our Police Department to solve crimes. I cannot in good conscience allow the agreement to continue.”
Protesters have been calling for an end to the agreement, and Kenney will meet with them Friday.
City Solicitor Marcel Pratt informed ICE of the decision in a letter, saying the agreement “has created the false perception that the city is willing to be an extension of ICE.”
Kenney has lobbied in favor of Philadelphia’s “sanctuary city” policies and even did a little dance earlier this month after a federal court ruled in the city’s favor in its lawsuit against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.