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Pittsburgh City Council

Two more bills aim to limit where immigration enforcement can operate in Pittsburgh.

Written by Amy Whipple

Pittsburgh City Council is moving forward with legislation to freeze out access by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to city property.

The two city code amendments, advanced at the May 6 committee meeting, aim to prevent federal immigration enforcement from using city-owned or -controlled property such as parks and libraries as staging areas as well as entering non-public city property without a judicial warrant. It also cannot use public spaces for questioning, processing or other related activity.

Last month, council passed an amendment to prohibit city employees, departments and agencies from cooperating with enforcement officers. It held the other two amendments to be reviewed by the Law Department.

Council Member Deb Gross of Highland Park, who sponsored all three amendments, said that she also consulted with the Beechview-based Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation. The advocacy group had expressed concerns about the immigrant community’s safety when the three bills were introduced at the end of March. 

If the bills pass, the mayor’s office is responsible for enforcement. The city solicitor will have the exclusive right to bring civil action against anyone who violates them. Consequences could include a $2,000 fine for each violation or termination from city employment.

None of the three amendments prohibit immigration enforcement from taking place in the city, which would violate federal law.

Council is scheduled to hold its final vote on the bills next week.

Connections to this story

Topics:
Immigration
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · May 6, 2026
Sources:
Ordinance 2026-0288 — amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Four: Public Places and Property, by adding Article IX: Use of…Ordinance 2026-0289 — amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh Code, Title Four: Public Places and Property by adding, Article IX: Use of…

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