Allentown, PA Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)

Adopted February 5, 2025 by Ordinance No. 16103, Chapter 115 commits Allentown to pursue and maintain at least a 3-star Certified Welcoming City rating from Welcoming America, with City Administration reporting to Council annually on progress. " No city official or employee may inquire into, record, or access a person's citizenship or immigration status unless required by state or federal law or a court order, and any such questions on City forms had to be deleted within 60 days of the chapter's adoption. Officials cannot disclose immigration status to outside parties absent a legal requirement, retain the information, or use City resources, including phones, databases, or radios, to help immigration enforcement.

C bars police from stopping, arresting, or continuing to detain someone past their release date based solely on an immigration detainer, an administrative warrant, or suspicion of unlawful presence. The City cannot enter 287(g) agreements to deputize local officers for federal immigration enforcement, cannot contract with ICE or CBP to house detainees, and, absent a valid judicial warrant, cannot let ICE or CBP access a detained person, use City facilities or databases for immigration investigations, or transfer someone into ICE custody. Officers who receive a request to assist an immigration operation must report it up the chain of command, where it is declined and logged in an interoffice memorandum.