Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA: Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval joined fellow Democratic lawmakers, advocates, and community leaders at the Pennsylvania Capitol to call for stronger protections for immigrant communities and to advocate for limiting the activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the state.
The gathering comes amid a rise in immigration enforcement actions and deportations across Pennsylvania and other parts of the United States. Participants urged the Pennsylvania General Assembly and state government to take swift action to safeguard residents and ensure community safety.
Saval, a second-generation Indian American whose parents immigrated to the United States from Bengaluru, criticized the Trump administration’s immigration policies. He emphasized that generations of immigrants have contributed to Pennsylvania's growth and prosperity by seeking opportunities, supporting communities, and building better futures for their families.
According to Saval, public resources should be directed toward education, healthcare, housing, and community development rather than expanding deportation efforts that he believes separate families and weaken trust in public institutions. He argued that such policies run counter to the goal of creating a state where all residents can thrive.
In response to increased ICE activity, Pennsylvania Democrats have introduced a package of legislative proposals designed to protect sensitive community spaces such as schools, hospitals, and polling locations from immigration enforcement actions. The measures also seek to ensure accountability in law enforcement, expand opportunities for immigrant communities, and provide legal avenues for individuals whose rights may have been violated.
The proposals arrive as the U.S. Congress considers additional funding for ICE and the Border Patrol. Supporters of the funding argue it would strengthen immigration enforcement efforts over the coming years, while critics contend that ICE already operates with one of the largest budgets among federal law enforcement agencies.
Democratic lawmakers highlighted concerns over a significant increase in ICE detentions in Pennsylvania compared to previous years. During the event, community advocates shared personal accounts of the impact of deportation policies on immigrant families.
Robin Gurung, board member of API PA and co-executive director of Asian Refugees United, stated that dozens of individuals from his community had been deported to Bhutan since March 2025 and subsequently faced displacement to neighboring countries. He urged communities to remain united and oppose actions that create fear among immigrants.
The proposed legislative package focuses on three main objectives: protecting community spaces, limiting cooperation between local authorities and federal immigration agencies, and expanding access to justice and opportunities for immigrant residents.
Specific measures include restricting ICE access to state-owned properties, safeguarding voting rights, ensuring educational institutions remain protected environments for students, reducing local participation in immigration enforcement activities, addressing concerns regarding federal authority, and establishing an Office of New Pennsylvanians.
The legislation is backed by a coalition of Pennsylvania state senators, including Nikil Saval, Amanda Cappelletti, Carolyn Comitta, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, Katie Muth, Sharif Street, and Lindsey Williams.
