Pittsburgh, PA Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- April 10, 2026
- Covers
- All City agencies, officials, employees
- Detention rule
- No hold on detainer alone
- ICE facility access
- Barred except public safety threats
- Enacted by
- Ord. No. 8-2026
Summary
Pittsburgh bars city agencies and employees from detaining anyone based solely on an ICE detainer, administrative warrant, or suspected immigration status, and blocks staff from aiding federal immigration enforcement operations.
No City agency, official, or employee shall, after a person becomes eligible for release from custody or would otherwise be free to leave an encounter with an agency, official, or employee, stop, arrest, detain, or continue to detain that person, based solely on any of the following:
(a) An immigration detainer;
(b) An administrative warrant; or
(c) Information or suspicion that a person is not present legally in the United States, or that the person has committed an immigration violation.
(2) No City agency, official, or employee shall:
(a) Permit immigration enforcement officials to access a person being detained by, or in the custody of, the agency or agent; transfer any person into the custody of immigration enforcement officials;
(b) Permit immigration enforcement officials to use City or City agency facilities, information (except as required under applicable local, state, or federal law) or equipment, including any agency electronic databases, for investigative interviews or other investigative purpose or for purposes of executing an immigration enforcement operation;
(c)
Full Breakdown
Chapter 172A of the Pittsburgh Code, enacted April 7, 2026 and effective April 10, 2026, bars city agencies, officials, employees, contractors and subcontractors from stopping, arresting, or continuing to detain a person based solely on an immigration detainer, an administrative warrant, or suspicion of undocumented status once that person is otherwise free to leave. The chapter also forbids city staff from letting ICE or CBP agents access city facilities, databases, or detainees, or from assisting immigration enforcement operations, subject to an exception for genuine threats to life or public safety. It covers the Bureau of Police as a City Agency.
Violations & Fines
No fine schedule applies to residents; the ordinance binds City agencies and staff, who face internal discipline for violations, and the mayor must issue implementing policies consistent with the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pittsburgh police hold people for ICE detainers?
Can ICE use Pittsburgh city buildings or records?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburgh
Compare Pittsburgh to another location·View the Pennsylvania immigration policy overview
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