Six things to know about State College’s new immigration ordinance

The State College Borough Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday that formally limits how borough employees and resources can be used in federal civil immigration enforcement. The measure formally puts existing borough practices into law but does not prevent federal immigration authorities from conducting enforcement in the borough.

Council members unanimously approved the ordinance following more than an hour of debate, saying they are willing to revisit and amend the measure in the future if necessary.

The new ordinance can be viewed on the Borough Council’s July 6 agenda.

FULL STORIES: State College Borough Council passes ordinance to limit cooperation with ICE; State College has a new ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE. Here’s what it does

Here’s what to know about the borough’s new immigration ordinance:

• The ordinance prohibits borough employees from participating in or using borough resources for federal civil immigration enforcement unless required by federal or state law, a court order or a judicial warrant.
• Council approved an amendment prohibiting law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status in all cases, after debate over whether such inquiries could hinder criminal investigations involving human trafficking or child exploitation.
• Borough employees are barred from allowing federal immigration authorities to use non-public borough offices, staff-only zones, vehicles, databases, communication systems and other municipal equipment for civil immigration enforcement, though ICE can still access public spaces such as parks, streets and libraries.
• Council member John Hayes cast the lone vote against a companion resolution affirming nine principles on immigration enforcement and constitutional rights, saying he agreed with the content but did not believe in “messaging bills” that cannot be legally enforced.
• The ordinance requires the borough to review its forms and remove questions about citizenship or immigration status, and prohibits denying borough services based on immigration status unless required by law, expanding protections across borough government beyond a 2017 police department policy.
• The Centre County Rapid Response Network, which had pushed for months for a “Welcoming Ordinance,” called the measure a first step and said it will continue pressing for stronger protections, following anti-ICE demonstrations led by the People’s Defense Front and allegations that local police assisted ICE in recent operations.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.