Nutter to Curtail Police Cooperation With Immigration Authorities

The Inquirer reports that Mayor Nutter is on the verge of signing an order that would greatly curtail Philadelphia’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Under current policy, if a person arrested by Philadelphia Police is found to be in the country illegally—an “undocumented immigrant”—then U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can have the jail hold the arrestee for possible deportation. Nutter’s order would end those holds, “except those charged with first- or second-degree felonies involving violence.”

But advocates for immigrants say they want a closer look at Nutter’s order before giving their stamp of approval:

Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, a South Philadelphia group for Latino immigrants, said advocates had not seen a copy of the draft order.

“We are asking for transparency,” she said. “The immigrant community should have some involvement and voice about what it looks like.”

Nutter’s order is expected to become official within a few weeks.