Ways To Support Pittsburgh’s Immigrant Communities

If you've felt scared, unsettled, or in danger because of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement activity, here are concrete ways to learn more about what's happening in Pittsburgh and how to get involved, including rapid-response trainings that prepare residents to safely document ICE activity, organizations providing legal or mutual aid, community care options for children and families, rent and food support, and more.

What Are Pittsburgh Officials Saying About ICE?

Mayor Corey O’Connor says Pittsburgh won’t work with ICE, which means our public safety officials, including police, won’t assist them. But local police may still be dispatched to monitor a situation, and it’s not clear what happens if an officer assists ICE while off duty. In other cities where ICE is more active, the voice of the mayor seems to hold little weight.

Pittsburgh City Council is urging PA senators to reject a federal budget bill that would provide another $10 billion to ICE. Under President Donald Trump, the agency now has more funding than any other U.S. law enforcement group. U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-Braddock) and Dave McCormick (R-Squirrel Hill) both oppose defunding ICE.

County Council is considering a bill that could bar elected officials and county employees from cooperating with ICE unless ordered by a federal judge. Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato called Trump’s influence on immigration enforcement and federal funding “chaotic.” She told County Council last summer the raids “have nothing to do with protecting us from criminals and actually threaten the region’s long-term growth and stability.”

Elsewhere in our region, smaller police departments are making their own choices about whether to work with ICE, sometimes without the knowledge or consent of local officials or voters. Public Source published a map of known agreements in Western Pennsylvania.

Neither Pittsburgh nor Pennsylvania have official sanctuary policies limiting local cooperation with ICE, which could include sharing access to databases, personal information, or legal proceedings where targets may be present. Philadelphia and other jurisdictions do. Pittsburgh was listed on a federal sanctuary list last year but was later removed. Trump pledged this month to withhold federal funding from “sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities.”

At a book tour event in Philadelphia, Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration is prepared to handle a Minneapolis-style ICE occupation in Pennsylvania. He called agents’ behavior there “lawless” and “unacceptable” — and categorized the recent shooting death of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol as an “atrocity.”

A new proposal in the PA Senate would prohibit civil immigration arrests within 1,000 feet of state-owned or leased facilities absent a judicial order or warrant.

You can make your voice heard by calling your elected leaders. The app 5calls helps locate their contact information and provides scripts you can use or adapt.

If You or Someone You Know is Affected by ICE Activity

If you or a loved one are detained by ICE, you can call Casa San José or Frontline DIGNITY’s emergency response lines.

If you are trying to find someone who’s been detained by ICE, try the national Online Detainee Locator System.

Find the latest data on ICE arrests and removals at TRAC.

Find ICE Response Trainings & Know-Your-Rights Info

Casa San José and Frontline DIGNITY have helped organize hundreds of volunteers to help with interpretation services, respond to families in crisis, and serve as safe, legal observers of ICE activity. Here’s more about the groups and partner organizations.

Casa San José

In addition to legal clinics and Know Your Rights sessions, Casa San José operates an emergency response network that monitors immigration enforcement and sends volunteers to court appointments. Follow the community center’s socials for more educational resources and ways to get involved.

Frontline DIGNITY

The community organization teaches volunteers how to act as ethical witnesses, document enforcement activity, and respond safely when ICE shows up. Follow their Instagram for up-to-date info.

Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition

This statewide coalition works directly with immigrant communities and supports grassroots organizations. They offer one of the best websites we’ve seen for resources about knowing your rights in different situations, as well as step-by-step guides for families, employers, schools and colleges, union stewards, health care workers, and more.

Council on American-Islamic Relations

CAIR offers an ICE Toolkit with preparedness guides, legal rights checklists, and community support planning resources — a good reference for organizations and volunteers helping impacted families.

PA Immigration Resource Center

PIRC provides free legal services to vulnerable immigrants, including education on the legal rights of people who've been detained and help for survivors of violence. They also lead an advocacy network that provides training, safety planning tools, and technical assistance with issues like language access in court.

ACLU of Pennsylvania

The statewide legal advocacy group has know-your-rights guides available in English and Spanish.

Stay Informed About ICE Activity in Pittsburgh

Local reporters and advocates all over our region are trying to document ICE encounters and their effect on our region. Here are a few that really stand out.

Public Source

The nonprofit newsroom closely follows immigration enforcement in Pittsburgh and across Southwestern Pennsylvania. Stay up to date on the local response.

50501 Pittsburgh

The 50501 Movement works to protect peoples' constitutional rights through actions across all 50 states. Find local information and ways to get involved through the Pittsburgh chapter.

1Hood Media

1Hood Media promotes social justice through art, activism, and education. Follow their socials to find out about local ICE response, upcoming protests, and more community events.

Indivisible Pittsburgh

This grassroots political organizing group often spearheads or helps get the word out about protests and demonstrations in Western Pennsylvania. If you’re outside the city, look for an Indivisible chapter in your area.

Local Groups Supporting Immigrant Communities

Lots of organizations and networks already exist to support our immigrant and refugee communities. Note: These are not for crisis response. Please let us know if we left someone off the list at pittsburgh@citycast.fm.

Pittsburgh Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs

The office works to support immigrants and refugees by streamlining access to city services, community groups, and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Helpful if you need local data supporting the value of immigration.

Allegheny County Services

The county has a helpful guide to resources and services for immigrants such as citizenship and legal assistance, literacy and ESL classes, youth programs, refugee resettlement services, and more.

Hello Neighbor

The Pittsburgh nonprofit helps newly resettled families with housing, employment, education, health care navigation, and community building. They also run a mentorship matching program so locals can support families directly.

Pittsburgh Presbytery

Church leaders offer advice on how religious communities can prepare, respond, and support the immigrant community, including a step-by-step guide on what to do if ICE comes to your church.

Jewish Family & Community Services

JFCS provides a broad range of services, including housing assistance, case management, employment support, and legal referrals. They also have a housing registry and donation options to help newly-arrived families settle. JFCS is connected to AIU3’s Immigrant Services and Connections program for kids and families.

Pennsylvania Women Work

The workforce development organization helps immigrants and refugees find sustainable employment through its RISE program. It’s a part of their mission to support all people, and especially women, with free career development workshops, mentoring, and career coaching.

Christian Immigration Advocacy Center

CIAC provides low-cost immigration legal services for green card applications, naturalization, family reunification, and more — helpful for families needing legal support.

Literacy Pittsburgh

Through their Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC) program, Literacy Pittsburgh helps immigrants with food, rent/utility support, transportation access, and health care — often in multiple languages and without barriers to enrollment.

South Hills Interfaith Movement

SHIM is a hub for community resources through food pantries and community gardens, youth programs, utility assistance, a free clothing closet, and financial mentoring.

Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation

PHDC assists the Hispanic community with economic, housing, and employment opportunities — including through their business incubator, which guides entrepreneurs through planning from launch to operation.

Bhutanese Community Association

BCAP supports the Bhutanese community through citizenship classes, immigration assistance, learners-permit prep, after-school programs, and community engagement opportunities like neighborhood gardening.

Allegheny United for Immigrant Rights and Justice

The Allegheny United coalition organizes to protect immigrants in Allegheny County. Follow their social channels to find protest and neighborhood outreach events, mutual aid opportunities, and ways to engage with local lawmakers.

Make the Road PA

Through community organizing, education, and civic engagement, Make the Road PA helps to build power within Latinx, Black, immigrant, and working-class communities. Find resources on how to participate in issue-based campaigns.

Latino Community Center

Families can access bilingual case management support, early childhood workshops, youth tutoring and after-school activities, and more support services.

Donate or Find Food Assistance in Pittsburgh

Groups like North Hills Community Outreach, the Brashear Association, and Pittsburgh Mutual Aid all run food pantries, drives, and neighbor-to-neighbor food support. Find a longer list here.

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

The food bank is one of the biggest hubs in the region. Donations help feed immigrant and low-income families alike.

412 Food Rescue

The nonprofit redistributes surplus food directly to communities in need and accepts volunteers and donations.

Steel City Food Not Bombs

The group leads distributions for groceries, hot meals, and other supplies at multiple locations in the city.