House Legislation Supported by the Welcoming Caucus
HB 324: Removing Citizenship Requirements from Poultry Technician Licenses – This bill expands Certified Poultry Technicians status to noncitizens. Many individuals who work in Pennsylvania’s poultry operations are not US citizens and despite legally being able to work on farms in the United States, limiting Certified Poultry Technicians to US citizens, prevents these hardworking individuals from becoming Certified Poultry Technicians.
HB 1113: Office of New Pennsylvanians – This bill’s goal is to make Pennsylvania more welcoming and economically resilient by harnessing the contributions of newcomers by establishing the Office of New Pennsylvanians tasked with attracting, retaining, and embracing immigrants.
HB 1222-1225: Removing Arbitrary Citizenship Requirements from Professional Licenses – These bills would allow immigrants with US work authorization to apply for professional licensure in a variety of occupations.
HB 1226-1231: Removing Arbitrary Citizenship Requirements from Professional Licensing Boards – These bills would allow immigrants with US work authorization to participate on PA’s professional licensing boards.
HB 1281: Providing Clarity and Consistency for U-Visas – This bill establishes a clear, timely, and supportive process for local and state officials to handle U-visa certifications—emphasizing responsiveness, privacy, cooperation, and training.
HB 1518: Driver’s Licenses for All - This bill would ensure that all residents—including noncitizens and undocumented individuals—have access to non-REAL-ID licenses. This change will improve public safety by reducing the number of unlicensed and uninsured drivers on the road.
HB 1762: In-State Tuition Fairness Act – This bill would grow Pennsylvania’s skilled workforce and economy by extending in-state tuition rates at Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities to all Pennsylvania residents regardless of immigration status.
HB 1872: Prohibiting the State Police from Performing Immigration Arrests – This bill would prohibit the Pennsylvania State Police from performing ICE’s immigration enforcement duties via a 287(g) agreement.
HB 1968: Protecting Pennsylvanians’ Rights Against Unlawful Searches and Seizures – This bill would allow Pennsylvanians and PA prosecutors to sue ICE or other agencies for violating the US constitution by unlawfully detaining individuals.
HB 1880: Officer Visibility Act – This bill would require ICE agents to wear identifiable uniforms and prohibit the use of face coverings.
HB 2171: Documenting ICE Civil Liberties Violation – This bill would authorize the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to receive and document complaints from the public regarding civil liberties violations committed by ICE and law enforcement agencies working with ICE.
HR 402: Urging Congress to Condition DHS Funding – This resolution urges Congress to withhold DHS and ICE funding in any continuing resolution or spending package unless reforms are enacted.
Prohibiting Police Immigration Enforcement Agreements – This bill would prohibit Pennsylvania and municipal law enforcement agencies from entering into 287(g) agreements with ICE to actively pursue immigration enforcement.
Prohibiting State Dollars Being Spent on Federal Immigration Enforcement – This bill will restrict law enforcement agencies from using state appropriated funds for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. Additionally, this legislation would enshrine the Pennsylvania State Police’s policy of limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Protecting Access to Courthouses and Commonwealth Properties - These bills would provide urgently needed protections from ICE arrests on courthouse grounds and Commonwealth properties. Under these bills, ICE agents must clearly identify themselves and produce a signed judicial warrant to be in courthouses. Warrantless arrests made on courthouse grounds or Commonwealth property would result in contempt of court proceedings or civil liabilities for the arresting officers.
Protecting Vulnerable Immigrant Youth – As authorized by the federal government, this bill would establish uniform procedure for state judges to follow when trafficked or abused immigrant children enter the PA juvenile justice system, creating a legal path for permanent residency.
Welcoming Schools: Ensuring PA Schools are Safe Places for All Students - This bill will require school districts to adopt clear procedures for responding to immigration enforcement. These steps will protect student privacy, give administrators and staff clear guidance, and affirm schools as welcoming places for all.
Senate Legislation Supported by the Welcoming Caucus
SB 24: Office of New Pennsylvanians - This bill’s goal is to make Pennsylvania more welcoming and economically resilient by harnessing the contributions of newcomers by establishing the Office of New Pennsylvanians tasked with attracting, retaining, and embracing immigrants.
SB 86: Pennsylvania DREAM Act – This bill supports the educational ambitions of long-term undocumented youth—particularly those who have lived and attended school in Pennsylvania—by making higher education more accessible and affordable.
SB 1071: No Secret Police: Unmask ICE – The recent practice of ICE agents covering their faces and concealing their identities while carrying out official duties poses significant concerns. Not only has this method eroded public trust, but impersonations of law enforcement have increased. This bill would require ICE and other law enforcement agencies to wear identification while on duty, prohibit masking, and provide criminal and civil penalties for violating these rules.
SB 1125: Welcoming Schools - Ensuring PA Schools are Safe Places for All Students – This bill will require school districts to implement procedures for responding to immigration enforcement at schools. Every single student deserves to be protected and deserves the opportunity to learn and succeed. This bill would affirm schools as welcoming places for all students, affirm the right of all students to attend school, and limit immigration enforcement within schools in Pennsylvania.
Keep ICE Off Pennsylvania’s Property - This legislation will prevent civil immigration arrests by federal immigration authorities inside, or within 1,000 feet of Commonwealth owned or leased facilities unless supported by a judicial warrant or judicial order.
Limiting Local Entanglements with ICE – This bill will prohibit local law enforcement resources from being used for civil immigration enforcement, including inquiring about status, arresting or detaining individuals without criminal warrants, and sharing data. Law enforcement is most effective when victims and witnesses of crimes feel safe communicating and cooperating with local authorities. This will not be possible if our local law enforcement is directed to do the work of federal immigration enforcement.
Prohibiting Unlawful ICE Arrests and Detainments – This bill will criminalize indiscriminate tactics of arrest and detainment by law enforcement acting within this Commonwealth, such as the unlawful and violent tactics ICE is using in Minnesota, Chicago, and across the country.