How Centre County residents, organizations are responding to growing ICE fears

Since reclaiming the White House, President Donald Trump has made sweeping changes to immigration policy, sending the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into hyperdrive. In response, a wave of uncertainty, protests and community organization have washed through communities across the country — including in Centre County.

As of June, the New York Times reported, Pennsylvania has experienced a nearly 250% increase in ICE arrests since Trump retook office. Despite the statewide spike, Centre County officials say they’re not aware of ICE activity in the area. But the concern has still been real.

In January, rumors of ICE activity in the State College Area School District spread online, but the claims were quickly denied by the district, which clarified its policies on law enforcement activity within schools. At Penn State, at least 25 international student visas were revoked — and then later reinstated by the Trump administration — but the university maintained it was not aware of ICE activity on campus.

“That kind of uncertainty certainly builds [a] lack of trust and anger toward our governmental institutions, which is not a good place to be,” State College Borough Council member Gopal Balachandran said of the revoked student visas.

Even without the presence of ICE activity in Centre County, residents and organizations are seeing the impact of rising ICE concerns, and have begun preparing in anticipation of the enforcement agency’s activity in the community. With the recent passage of Trump’s “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” border security is set to receive a roughly $175 billion funding increase, CBS News reported. A $75 billion portion of those funds will be allocated to ICE.

Training ‘rapid responders’ to monitor ICE reports

Founded in March, the Centre County Rapid Response Network has amassed more than 85 “rapid responders,” or volunteers trained to verify and monitor reported ICE activity in the area. Through their 24-hour hotline, the response network is notified of possible ICE activity in the county. But so far, they’ve only arrived on the scene to dispel rumors of the enforcement agency’s presence.

“We alert the community to ICE having activity in the area,” said Kate, co-founder and member of the rapid response network. “We remind the community of their rights, including the First Amendment and the Fourth Amendment. We document abuses that might otherwise go unseen. And we provide immediate support during a raid.”

Due to concerns about the safety of herself and the organization, Kate and co-founder Lomas requested to only be identified by their first names. As a clergy person and resident of Centre County, Kate feels it’s her duty to ensure every individual feels welcome in her community — which is what drew her to get involved in the volunteer organization.

If an ICE arrest were to happen, Lomas said, responders have been trained to document arrests, observe possible violations of rights and remind detainees of their Fifth Amendment right to remain silent.

“It’s very important to be able to document what’s happening,” said Lomas, who is an educator and Centre County resident. “Going back to the notion that a lot of people’s constitutional rights are being violated, having that on record and being able to share that with our legal team.”

As members of the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition, the network works with similar organizations across the state to secure legal resources and relay information concerning ICE activities within Pennsylvania’s communities.

“We’re all working together,” Lomas said. “It’s not just us out here in Centre County; it’s us in collaboration with people out in, for example, Williamsport, Philadelphia.”

Unlike other local organizations like the People’s Defense Front, who patrol the community for ICE activity, the response network specializes in verification and rapid response. The rapid response network has also been among local groups to participate in State College anti-Trump protests.

If ICE activity is suspected to be observed in Centre County, the response network encourages residents to call their 24-hour hotline at 814-264-4626. Currently, the response network is seeking bilingual volunteers for their hotline. For more information on how to get involved with the organization, visit their Instagram @centrecountyrapidresponse.

Centre County nonprofit sees ‘fear, uncertainty’

Though ICE activity has not been reported in the county, one local nonprofit has already seen residents affected by Trump’s sweeping immigration policies.

Tucked in downtown State College, the Mid-State Literacy Council attracts more than 300 students a year. Servicing Centre and Clearfield counties, the nonprofit helps students improve their reading, writing and math skills, among other know-hows needed to navigate today’s society.

More specifically, the MSLC’s English Language Learning Program draws a healthy mix of immigrants looking to sharpen their English language skills and better assimilate into central Pennsylvania life.

“I see people’s lives change all the time coming in here,” said Bridget Schell, the nonprofit’s executive director. “People walk through these doors looking for something, sometimes not even knowing exactly what they’re looking for, and then finding a place where we’re willing and excited to walk through that journey with them.”

Now, she’s concerned that foot traffic into the MSLC’s doors could soon slow down.

“We also had many students coming in on a daily basis, expressing fear, uncertainty, making plans to leave the country because of their immigration status or because their partner was at the university and lost research funding and so now their family is moving home,” Schell said.

Another major factor that could contribute to MSLC’s declining numbers is Trump’s cancellation of the Biden-era CHNV program.

When the humanitarian parole program, which catered to Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan refugees, was established in 2023, MSLC saw a spike in students from those countries, Schell said. But now, after Trump canceled the program earlier this year, many immigrants, including some students at the MSLC, were left uncertain about their legal status in the U.S.

“Now they are in limbo where they have no idea what is going to happen next,” Schell said. “They likely need to leave the country, but may not be able to return to their home country for safety reasons.”

Volunteer numbers at the nonprofit have also been impacted.

Citing the uncertainty around Trump’s decisions regarding student visa revocations, Schell said “many” Penn State international students have decided to stop volunteering at MSLC. She expects this to make a noticeable impact on MSLC’s services, as international students bring unique cultural perspectives and language skills to their staff.

Schell and her team have begun hosting “know your rights” sessions — ensuring students know what to do in case of an ICE encounter.

“We have developed an ICE policy, so that we’re prepared to make sure that if anything happens, we’re as prepared as possible,” Schell said.

Local leaders respond, offer support for residents

With the community still on edge, Centre County leaders are trying their best to address residents’ fears.

“I think it’s a very challenging situation and I’m not sure I can give you an answer as to what we can do specifically,” State College Mayor Ezra Nanes said. “But trust me that this is a topic that we are certainly thinking about, how to ensure the safety and well-being of all of our residents.”

Nanes went on to explain the borough’s commitment to upholding “lawful court orders,” in the event that ICE did find its way to State College.

In an emailed statement to the CDT, State College Police Chief John Gardner did not directly address whether the department would aid ICE in the event that the agency increases activity in the borough.

“The State College Police Department’s primary focus is to provide for the public safety while ensuring the welfare of all of our community members. We value our relationships with all of our local, state, and federal partners who assist us with this mission,” he wrote. “We respect these partnerships and will continue to build upon them to ensure our community remains safe and welcoming.”

The department did not respond to a request for clarification.

In late May, State College and Centre County were labeled by the Department of Homeland Security as “sanctuary jurisdictions” accused of defying federal immigration law. Leaders from both entities pushed back on the label, which could put federal funding at risk, and a new, smaller list released this week did not include State College or Centre County.

Nanes is also concerned about broader implications that the president’s policies could have on the State College community, including the economic stability of the college town.

With Penn State being the “largest economic entity in Centre County,” Nanes said, targeting international students could dissuade future students from coming to the university, contributing their diverse perspectives to the local community, engaging in research and teaching opportunities, and making economic contributions to State College and surrounding areas.

“That can affect the entire economy of this region, right? It can affect people’s desire to come and live here even,” said Nanes.

Similarly, State College Borough Council member Gopal Balachandran denounced the Trump administration’s disorderly use of the enforcement agency and acknowledged the uncertainty that immigrant communities in and around Penn State are feeling.

Citing ICE tactics of monitoring social media feeds, conducting arrests without warrants and detaining green card holders who have criticized Israel, Balachandran believes recent funding increases to the enforcement agency could bolster the infringement of individuals’ First and Fourth Amendment rights.

“It’s been shut down by the courts, but that doesn’t mean they’re not gonna try and make novel legal arguments to try and get people deported, right? And that, in a way, that degrades First Amendment rights,” said Balchandran, who is also an associate professor of clinical law at Penn State’s law school. “If you include over $100 billion in funding, you’re talking about a significant increase in surveillance capabilities.”

Both Nanes and Balchandran emphasized that their statements reflect their own views and not that of the council or university.

As the Centre County community continues to navigate the growing tension around Trump’s immigration policies, Nanes emphasized his respect for central Pennsylvania’s immigrant communities.

“We need to honor the dignity of all people,” Nanes said. “And people who are here, even undocumented, have fundamental human rights that we need to honor.”