DHS threatens federal funding for Pittsburgh, Allegheny County over immigrant stance

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has included Pittsburgh and Allegheny County on a lengthy list of “sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law.”

The creation of the list was mandated by an April executive order in which President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal funding from jurisdictions federal officials believe hinder immigration enforcement.

The Department of Homeland Security said each listed jurisdiction will receive “formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes.”

“DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,” the department’s website reads.

Allegheny County Manager John Fournier in a statement said the county had not received any such notification as of Friday afternoon.

“We have not received any formal communication from the federal government regarding any policies they would like us to revise,” he said. “We will have no further comment until we can evaluate their recommendations.”

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s office released a statement:

“While the City of Pittsburgh is by definition not a sanctuary city because we do not operate our own detention center, we are undeniably a city that is welcoming and inclusive. We honor and protect our immigrant neighbors because they contribute to what makes this city strong, our richness of diversity, and we refuse to betray them. We stand firm against policies that threaten their rights and dignity.

Pittsburgh is committed to defending all residents and will pursue every option—including litigation—to protect our community and the federal funding we rely on. We will not back down.”

“Neither the city nor the county has done anything that violates any laws,” Monica Ruiz, executive director of Beechview-based immigrant advocacy organization Casa San Jose, told TribLive. “They are doing exactly what the law is expecting them to do.”

Local police aren’t responsible for civil immigration enforcement, she pointed out.

“Our local police are pretty busy, I think, doing things here with the limited resources they have,” she said. “They shouldn’t be using their time, energy, effort and funding to be enforcing other civil law.”

Including Pittsburgh and Allegheny County on the list when the city and county have done nothing to violate federal immigration law, Ruiz said, “shows the ignorance of this (Trump) administration.”

Ruiz said anti-immigrant rhetoric and increased immigration enforcement activities have left local immigrant communities on edge.

“What it does is it scares people,” she said.

‘I welcome them’

City Councilman Anthony Coghill, D-Beechview, said seeing Pittsburgh on a list of jurisdictions at risk of losing federal funding is concerning. But the city has passed no legislation to designate itself a sanctuary city.

Coghill — who represents Beechview, a community with a strong Latino immigrant community — said he hopes the city’s immigrants won’t be targeted more heavily by federal immigration enforcement officers.

“They’ve been good not only for Beechview, but the South Hills in general,” Coghill said. “They’ve brought life and commerce and restaurants and energy to Beechview. They’ve really rebuilt the place. I welcome them. I just hope the federal government stays out.”

Coghill said he worries the vocal stance elected officials like Gainey have taken in standing up to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could “put a bulls-eye on us.”

The mayor has vowed not to cooperate with ICE, as has Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor, who beat the mayor in the Democratic mayoral primary this month.

“My administration will not work with ICE,” Gainey said during a PA Press Club event in January. “We will do whatever’s necessary to make our city more welcoming. That’s what we’re built on.”

Ruiz applauded leaders like Gainey who have stood up for immigrants, though she acknowledged the mayor’s stance may have been what landed Pittsburgh on the Department of Homeland Security’s list.

“They can’t stop ICE, but they’re not collaborating with ICE,” Ruiz said. “I’m so proud of our leaders that have taken a stance to be bold, to not cower in this moment.

“More leaders, more elected officials need to stand up against what’s happening and stand up for the people who live in our cities, who live in our counties.”

The Department of Homeland Security list includes jurisdictions in 35 states, as well as the District of Columbia. Other Pennsylvania jurisdictions include Gettysburg, Philadelphia, State College and York, as well as these counties: Adams, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour and Northampton.

‘Lawless insurrection’

Trump in his executive order criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of immigration and said the presence of illegal immigrants, including criminal organizations and terrorists, risked public safety and national security.

“Yet some state and local officials nevertheless continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct and defy the enforcement of federal immigration laws,” Trump’s executive order said. “This is a lawless insurrection against the supremacy of federal law and the federal government’s obligation to defend the territorial sovereignty of the United States.”

Trump’s executive order threatens to suspend or revoke federal funding to jurisdictions that federal officials consider sanctuaries.

“That’s a real possibility, I guess, and it’s a concern, for sure,” Coghill said.

Trump’s warning comes at a time when Pittsburgh is struggling with declining revenues, an end to federal covid-19 relief money and a 2025 spending plan some officials worry is unrealistic.

Councilwoman Theresa Kail-Smith, D-West End, said she’s unsure about what the list means for Pittsburgh, particularly as the city has never passed legislation declaring itself a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.

She said she’d like to see officials working together to find ways to expedite pathways to citizenship or other protected statuses for people who illegally entered the country while fleeing war-torn or dangerous countries.

She said elected officials should be working to find solutions rather than getting bogged down in political rhetoric.

“I’m sure it’s frightening for anyone who came here not through the legal process,” Kail-Smith said. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t come up with solutions.”