PA 'Shamefully Obstructing' Federal Immigration Laws, Trump Admin Says

PENNSYLVANIA — Sixteen counties and cities in Pennsylvania are on a list of jurisdictions which the Department of Homeland Security says are deliberately obstructing federal immigration law.

The list published this week lists more than 500 "sanctuary" counties and cities and even a few states, which federal officials say have refused to comply with federal law.

A total of 11 counties in Pennsylvania made the new federal list: Adams, Allegheny, Centre, Chester, Clarion, Dauphin, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Montour, and Northampton.

Five Pennsylvania cities did as well: Gettysburg, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, State College, and York.

Pennsylvania's most populous and Democratic-run counties have long maintained their right to protect immigrants, and have accused the Trump administration's policies of violating civil rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

"Thankfully, the Constitution protects our right to be a welcoming, safe community—and we’ll keep investing in mental health, housing, and real public safety," Montgomery County's Commissioner Neil Makhija said in a response on social media that included a "shrug" emoji.

The Homeland Security list includes a statement describing the sanctuary jurisdictions' "deliberate and shameful obstruction" of the recent Trump executive order.

"Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril," the department said.

The cities and counties will receive a "formal notification" of its violations, though it remains unclear how enforceable the demands are.

"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 Homeland Security statement adds.

While de facto policy is one thing, many of Pennsylvania's detractors have been vocal and straightforward that they will not cooperate with federal requests to have local law enforcement assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in executing mass deportations.

"When traffic stops become de facto immigration checks, we create a subset of residents forced to live further in the shadows," Montgomery County Commissioners Makhija and Jamila Winder wrote in a recent Inquirer opinion piece. "This doesn‘t enhance public safety — it compromises it."

Anti-immigrant rhetoric, they argue, is not based in fact, citing studies from the conservative-leaning Cato Institute that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes.