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Pittsburgh council adopts ordinance limiting local cooperation with ICE after amendment
Summary
Pittsburgh City Council unanimously passed an ordinance (Bill 286) on April 7, 2026 that restricts local collection and use of immigration status information and limits certain forms of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement; council removed a proposed deed-restriction requirement during amendment.
Pittsburgh City Council voted unanimously on April 7 to adopt an ordinance establishing a non-intervention policy aimed at limiting city cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ordinance, identified in the meeting as Bill 286, adds a new chapter to the Pittsburgh Code to restrict the collection and use of information related to citizenship and immigration status, limits use of certain city assets, and prohibits specified forms of discrimination in city services.
Councilwoman Barb Warwick introduced an amendment before final passage that the law department had recommended. The amendment primarily adjusted numbering and code placement and added clarifying language about enforcement and how the policy would align with collective-bargaining agreements. A substantive change in the amendment removed an earlier provision that would have required deed restrictions on city property sales to enforce the non-cooperation policy; the amendment’s sponsor said the department of law advised the deed restriction language was not feasible.
Council members debated the amendment briefly and then approved it; after roll call the ordinance passed with nine "I" votes and no recorded "no" votes. Council President Lavell presided over the session.
Public comment ahead of the vote included repeated appeals from neighborhood residents and community advocates who said local policies should protect immigrant families from federal enforcement actions. Speakers during public comment cited recent local incidents and urged council to adopt strong safeguards for residents and city employees.
The ordinance defines limited circumstances under which certain records or city resources may be used, prescribes remedies for violations and outlines enforcement responsibilities for city departments. The law department’s edits tightened the language on enforcement mechanics and removed the property-deed approach; council members described the amendment as intended to preserve the ordinance’s enforceability while avoiding legal obstacles.
Next steps called for the ordinance to be implemented through departmental guidance and for staff to coordinate on enforcement procedures consistent with the amended language. Council did not specify additional funding for implementation during the session.
