ICE out of Philly

^{Immigration agents are seen on video as they arrest five Guatemalan men near 20th and Morris Streets in Philadelphia on July 6, 2025. Obtained by The Inquirer}

by Anonymous, 2025

Before I ever sat in a lecture hall at Penn, I cleaned the Alpha Tau Omega house on 39th St. That summer of 2019, right around the time Penn’s spring semester ended, I set foot in University City for the first time. The man I worked with instructed me to put on gloves, and place the litter that lingered on the fraternity floors in trash bags. It was not as time consuming as his job. The man dedicated a long time to fixing broken doors and disarming damaged furniture. After we finished, we pushed a cart full of garbage down Locust Walk. The man, who had a different immigration status than me, left no trace of his presence behind. He fixed everything for the incoming Penn students, who would continue unapologetically making messes—never once noticing, nor thanking, the people who cleaned up after them. 

1 in 5 working residents in Philadelphia are foreign-born. In 2024, 15.7% of Philadelphians reported being born overseas. As you begin your time at Penn, it is essential that you make a choice to actively care for our city, Philadelphia, and those who will make this place your new home. Navigating a new city is challenging, and long-standing immigrant communities are welcoming to newcomers.

In West Philadelphia, we live in historically Black neighborhoods. If you venture out to the Northeast, you will come across a lot of Eastern European families. Downtown, you will meet individuals from vast regions of Asia. In South Philadelphia, Italian immigrants forged the Italian Market; and in recent decades, newcomers from Central America have continued to shape it. And all across North Philly and the Southwest, there is a blend of African and Caribbean families.

Individuals of different backgrounds make up this city, and an estimated 47,000 are undocumented immigrants. Anti-immigrant policies harm youth the most. Children living in undocumented and mixed-status households are worrying about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a very early age. As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calls parents to court, children experience high levels of stress and anxiety, fearing losing their parents. The majority of Penn students do not ever think about receiving a mandated order from the DHS, and you should not have to receive one to start helping now. 

When Mayor Cherelle Parker stripped this city of its “sanctuary” title – a term signaling that police are instructed to not cooperate with ICE – it deflected responsibility to stand with our neighbors, loved ones, and colleagues. On July 15, 2025, federal agents took five undocumented men from their South Philly block. The following day, as individuals ran errands at a grocery store in West Norriton, Pennsylvania, ICE agents arrested 14 people with no criminal record. Penn affirms that they have provided guidance for undocumented and immigrant community members, but they have failed to vocally express support for them. 

The Trump agenda of mass deportations instills fear, silences the vulnerable, and inflicts pain on the innocent. What kind of administration kicks individuals out of a home that politicians never took part in building? What parent is in support of making a child helplessly watch their mother get pushed into the back of an ICE vehicle? What person deserves to be packed into a cold, violent prison? 

At a time when injustice is continuously accepted across the country and in our Philadelphia, we must not turn away. Blatant ignorance enables inhumane actions. If the University of Pennsylvania has a commitment to serve people, how can we live comfortably, neglecting people’s struggles? We cannot. We must not. 

What You Can Do:

1. If you see an ICE raid occurring, call these two hotlines to report it: 267-333-9530 (English/Spanish) &  267-345-5248 (English/Indonesian). The New Sanctuary Moment of Philadelphia will send an emergency alert to all trained members of Sanctuary in the Streets and activate their raid response system.
2. If you are a U.S. citizen, and feel safe doing so, record ICE encounters, but do NOT interfere. 
3. Research local organizations and volunteer to support affected families.
4. Attend educational events for yourself and loved ones. Penn for Immigrant Rights (PIR) holds “Know Your Rights” workshops all-year round. 
5. Raise awareness about Red Cards: cards that state individuals’ constitutional rights, regardless of immigration status. 
6. Advocate for DACA and undocumented student representation outside of International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
7. Do NOT post unverified information on social media
8. Read more about Penn’s resources for international students in Penn vs. International Students

In spite of the President dehumanizing undocumented immigrants, many Americans continue rallying to protect them. To defend undocumented immigrants’ right to reside in the country, some cite the economic risk the U.S. will face from losing its underpaid workforce. While it is important to recognize labor that is taken for granted, financial loss is not the reason to stand with families. 

Before an immigration hearing, a family has the opportunity to gather character reference letters for court. These letters are used in court to testify to an individual’s character, and their positive contribution to society. In seeking support for an immigration case, no character reference letter  will mention strengthening the U.S. economy. After all, undocumented immigrants’ job occupation is not an identity, nor is it a testament to their worth as human beings. 

When we transplant ourselves away from a place we call home, we consciously make a choice. As you create a life for yourself at Penn, remember that you, like many undocumented individuals, came to Philadelphia seeking out opportunities. Immigrants have already made their mark on Philadelphia. In time, you will too. Having the choice to move away, and move about, respects our human dignity. We are all deserving of walking confidently, openly expressing our presence—not living in fear of getting pulled aside, and being illegally detained. So, when individuals are forcibly taken from their homes, the law is robbing individuals of a choice; and the law is tearing families apart. Now is our time to act.