It is necessary to take 5 urgent measures to protect the community of immigrants of our city

With the access to the political arena the president Donald Trump She constantly ignited fears and promoted native ideology, spreading misinformation about the crime rate among immigrants. He promised to arrest and deport about 13 million unauthorized immigrants in the country. Many of them are “dreamers” and persons who have delayed a visa that are our neighbors and have lived in the city and region for decades – many with children born in America.

Immigrants in Philadelphia make up close 16% of the population -The highest representation since the 1940s. We all know the obvious: immigrants in our city were the main driving force not only of population growth but also in a regional economy. We know that almost 20% of Philadelphia workers are foreigners, and immigrants in Pennsylvania have $ 30.1 billion in consumer capacity – and, so, in 2021, they paid $ 11.5 billion in taxes. Immigrants are filled critically Lack of labor In a number of industries.

These include non -authored immigrants who often work and pay taxes without returning from their investment. Right, even unformed workers pay their share in social security But never collects a cent.

But Trump is not interested in these facts or statistics. In his second term, the President aggressively conducts strategies that include permits Immigration as well as arrests by customs authorities in places that previous administrations considered safe harbor. Schools and religious buildings They are now the objects of these implementation measures. The idea is to create fear and chaos.

Let’s see the arrests of unformed workers and deportations take place daily. However, Trump’s policies are breaking all International Legal Standards on Migrants Seeking AsylumAnd ignore Basic Procedure Proper Procedure. As a result, Recently reported raids related to immigrants The Trump administration sanctioned, struck our city and the country.

As a community, we must take immediate and decisive measures to protect our residents and support our values of justice and compassion. Urgent requires bold management. Here are some possible strategies that the city authorities can apply.

The hotline hotline. The city should create a central information number, perhaps using 211, where people can call to receive immediate legal assistance and report any raids or arrests. This will help to monitor the nature and scope of federal actions, while providing residents who do not have legal protection, a legal and reliable place to seek.

Free legal aid. The city should coordinate a citywide network of lawyers to provide free legal representation and support. This network should unite all existing public law firms and other stakeholders to develop strategies for counteracting potential violations caused by these raids, such as arrests without warrants.

Increasing social services. Non -profit organizations, especially with city contracts, should be involved in providing the necessary social services, especially for children in cases where parents have been removed or arrested.

Strengthen the protection of children at school. The Philadelphia School District The board should be praised confirming their commitment to his “resolution on living rooms-reserves”, which seeks to protect students from federal immigration bodies. But it could do more. A multilingual newsletter for parents can be a useful guide. School leaders must cooperate with groups such as Huntos, Hias Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania immigration coalition, Esperan and others Defenders of immigrants and Service providersAll of which have the experience of solving the problem of our immigrants and residents without documents.

Clearer instructions for the police. The orders of mayors are not enough. The City Council should codify, which means the protection of all residents – citizens or not – from illegal search and withdrawal. A policy that will require clear instructions on the role and procedures of local police during its interaction with the federal authorities, especially when considering unauthorized arrests and other potential violations of federal law enforcement and raids.

At the same time we must rely on the skillful leadership of the mayor Sherel L. Parker To declare a city response and a strategy, especially now when the director of urban immigration resigned.

These proposals are not new or unprecedented; Many municipalities have already introduced similar events. It is time for our city to follow this example and confirm our commitment to justice for all Philadelphia inhabitants. This includes those who may not have an “authorized” stay here, but were our neighbors and an integral part of our economy and our collective multicultural identity.

Israel of the columns is an analyst of city policy and former director of the multiculturalism of mayor Michael Natter.