After President Donald Trump signed new executive orders affecting immigrants, LGBTQ+ rights, and diversity programs, the Philadelphia City Council took action.
On January 22, 2025, Councilmember At-Large Rue Landau led a public hearing at Philadelphia City Hall to discuss how the city could protect people affected by the changes.
Officials from nonprofits, the district attorney’s office, the mayor’s administration, and the School District of Philadelphia gathered to address concerns.
Their main goal was to review existing protections and explore what else needed to be done to keep Philadelphia a welcoming place.
Since taking office, Trump has already signed orders that could create problems for many residents.
Minutes after being sworn in, he took steps against birthright citizenship, immigration policies, transgender rights, and federal diversity programs.
Consequently, city officials were concerned about how these actions might impact people in Philadelphia.
At the hearing, they focused on ways to prepare for what could come next.
Philadelphia considers itself a “welcoming city” rather than a “sanctuary city.”
Although it follows federal law, it also works to protect residents from unfair treatment.
For this reason, legal experts are reviewing options to make sure the city does not violate federal laws while keeping people safe.
During the hearing, community members were invited to share their concerns, offering the public an opportunity to be heard.
In the suburbs, local officials were also paying attention.
Over the past decade, many immigrants have moved from big cities to suburban and rural areas.
According to census data, more than 11% of people in Montgomery and Delaware counties were born outside the U.S.
Thus, Montgomery County took steps to provide more support by creating a new government position—the director of immigrant affairs.
In their first 2025 Board of Commissioners meeting, officials made this decision to ensure that immigrant communities could access important resources.
At the time, Neil Makhija, the Board of Commissioners chair, explained that this role had been under discussion since 2024.
But, after Trump’s election, it became even more urgent.
Nevertheless, local governments had limits on what they could do.
Unlike Philadelphia, counties such as Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester fully complied with federal and state laws, so they did not block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from doing its job.
Even so, leaders in these areas wanted to help immigrants feel safe.
Reports of ICE raids had already surfaced in Upper Darby, a township in Delaware County with a diverse population.
Within its high school alone, students spoke more than 65 languages.
Given this, county officials say they cannot stop ICE but want to help immigrants feel supported in other ways.
Each county had different levels of involvement with ICE.
While some provided ICE full access to jails and criminal records, others only cooperated if a warrant was presented.
A key legal decision in 2014 changed how many counties handled ICE requests.
That year, the Galarza v. Szalcyzk case ruled that local police could not hold someone for ICE without a proper warrant, and several counties stopped detaining people based only on ICE requests.
Advocates pointed out that the term “sanctuary city” was misleading.
Although local governments could not block ICE, they could still require officers to provide a warrant before making an arrest.
Beyond law enforcement, some leaders were also working to create safer environments in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.
In Montgomery County, Norristown Area School District set an example by adopting a rule to protect immigrant students and families.
For a long time, ICE had avoided making arrests at schools.
Recently, however, the Trump administration changed that rule, allowing ICE agents to enter schools, hospitals, and churches.
It could get to the point where some parents might become too afraid to send their children to school.
In order to help with these issues, officials stressed the importance of education.
Many believed that police officers, teachers, and other government workers needed to understand immigration laws so they could share accurate information.
In most cases, ICE needed a judicial warrant to detain someone, and people had the right to ask for proof before cooperating.
Knowing these rights helped prevent unnecessary arrests and gave immigrant communities a sense of security.
Not to mention, some public officials believed speaking out could also make a difference.
Neil Makhija pointed out that throughout history, different immigrant groups have faced discrimination.
In past decades, Italian and Irish Americans were treated unfairly, and now, the same thing is happening again.
So, he wanted Montgomery County’s immigrant residents to know they were valuable and important.
Even though local governments could not change federal laws, they could still pass anti-discrimination policies and make sure immigrants felt included.
As challenges continued, city and county leaders had to prepare for the future.
Due to Trump’s executive orders already taking effect, cities like Philadelphia might soon face pressure to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Advocacy groups are working with local governments to define what protections they can legally offer while still following federal laws.
While cities had to follow federal law, they were also seeking ways to protect their most vulnerable residents.
The January 22 hearing was just the beginning of what will likely be an ongoing discussion.
Officials are preparing for more changes from Washington, alongside looking for ways to help people cope with the uncertainty ahead through new government positions, school policies, and public meetings.
Public participation will be key, and leaders urge residents to stay involved, speak up, and know their rights as policies change.
