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Speakers spar over immigration policy; council defends city’s noncitizen-policing stance
Summary
Public commenters urged council to reject the mayor’s stated approach to immigration enforcement while other residents thanked the city for protecting immigrants. Council members responded by defending existing local policies and correcting terminology used by speakers.
Several public commentators at Pittsburgh City Council’s Feb. 4 meeting urged elected leaders to change course on immigration cooperation with federal enforcement, while others thanked the mayor for policies they said protect immigrant residents.
Joseph Grama of Pleasant Hills told council he opposed the mayor’s public statements that the city would "do whatever necessary to make our city welcoming," arguing that the mayor’s stance ignores enforcement of federal immigration law. Chad Ringblum of Brentwood also criticized the administration and urged council to "repudiate the policy" of welcoming undocumented immigrants, citing violent crimes in other jurisdictions.
By contrast, Margaret Fisher of Squirrel Hill thanked the mayor for actions she said protect immigrants, including friends who came legally from Venezuela. Fisher said her adopted daughter — a U.S. citizen born in Guatemala — now carries a passport and other safeguards because of fear of immigration enforcement.
Council response: Councilwoman Erica Strasburger, speaking during the council’s public-comment response period, called the rhetoric from some speakers "hateful and inaccurate" and defended the city’s longstanding policy that first responders and city police do not inquire about citizenship status. Strasburger noted that the Allegheny County Jail is run by the county, not the city, and said compliance with federal and state law continues. She also corrected terminology, saying the recognized term is "undocumented immigrant," not "illegal alien."
Why it matters: The exchanges highlight sharply different community views on immigration enforcement and underline the practical effect of local policing policies on public safety and trust in immigrant communities.
Ending: Council members signaled they will continue to monitor federal enforcement actions and reiterated that city departments follow applicable state and federal law.
