Harrisburg City Council Debates Ordinance to Limit ICE Cooperation
Harrisburg City Council is continuing discussions on a proposed ordinance that would restrict the city’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proposal, debated during a work session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, has sparked public debate, with residents voicing both support and opposition.
Public Input Highlights Divisions
The work session provided a platform for public comment, revealing a divided community. Matt Cossack, a Harrisburg resident, expressed concerns about potential legal ramifications for the city, stating, “Immigration Customs doesn’t seem to really respect the rule of law and regularly violates civil liberties. And that’s going to open up the city and our local law enforcement, if they are working with them, to civil suits, which we as the taxpayers of the city have to pay. And we already have a heavily burdened city.”
Conversely, Libby Profit voiced strong support for ICE’s presence in Harrisburg, saying, “I enjoy being American. I’m so proud that I made the choice to serve this country. And I am ecstatic that ICE is in Harrisburg protecting our constitutional rights. I pray you go nowhere else in nobody else’s country and claim constitutional right.”
Key Provisions of the Proposed Ordinance
City council members clarified that the ordinance aims to define the city’s role regarding immigration enforcement. The proposed legislation would prevent city officials from actively assisting in immigration enforcement, offering information on residents’ immigration status, or detaining individuals solely based on their immigration status.
However, the ordinance acknowledges existing federal mandates. Law enforcement would still be required to report individuals wanted by any agency encountered during traffic stops and to assist ICE officials if they face danger.
Other City Business: Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
During the same meeting, residents also addressed the closure of the Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center, which lost its business contract due to unpaid taxes. They requested the city council explore options for a payment plan with the center’s owner. This issue is scheduled for further discussion at the next council meeting.
Recent History of City-ICE Relations
While the city had an agreement with ICE between 2016 and 2019, no such agreement is currently in place. According to PennLive, Harrisburg Police Commissioner Thomas Carter stated that officers are obligated to notify ICE if someone wanted by the agency is encountered during a traffic stop and must provide assistance if ICE officials are in danger. The department does not participate in ICE raids.
As reported by WHP580, the proposed ordinance would also prohibit police officers and other city employees from detaining individuals solely based on immigration status and block the use of city funds, property, or data to assist in immigration investigations.
MSN reports that the council is considering adding factors to the legislation that would prevent city officials from using city resources to assist immigration enforcement and prevent granting access to non-public city facilities to immigration enforcement.