DonateSearch

Allegheny County Council

Council votes to block immigration enforcement cooperation without a warrant after council president's son receives death threat.

Written by Amy Whipple

 Allegheny County officials will not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant.

The vote by Allegheny County Council to codify that came March 10 after two hours of public comment and nearly an hour of member discussion. Council approved the measure with 11 votes in favor, three opposed and Council President Patrick Catena of Carnegie abstaining.

Catena participated in the meeting by phone because his son received a death threat at their home that morning. He expressed his anger at the situation and that neither he, nor the rest of council, could be intimidated or threatened into silence. He said he was abstaining from the vote because he did not want “to allow anyone to claim that threats or intimidation had any influence over the democratic process or the outcome of my decision.”

Prior to the final vote, council members debated proposed amendments to the legislation including two from council member Aaron Adams of Duquesne. One would have sunset the bill on Jan. 1, 2029. It failed nine to six. His second, which, among other things, would have exempted the Fifth Judicial District, county police and the offices of the controller, district attorney, sheriff and treasurer, failed five to 10.

The ordinance as introduced went to the county executive for her signature.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
Patrick Catena
Topics:
Immigration
Governments:
Allegheny County Council
Sources:
Ordinance 13809-26 — amending and supplementing the Administrative Code of Allegheny County through the creation of a new Part 13, entitled…

More surveys

Have your say on more of the stories we’re covering.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Board of Directors

School board directors to make closure decisions before summer.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Board of Directors agreed to make a decision before the end of the year about closing the nine school buildings according to the recommendations of the…