Committee of the Whole 4-13-26 (Afternoon)

The Philadelphia City Council Committee of the Whole convened on April 13, 2026, to discuss and advance a package of immigration-related legislation known as the "ICE Out" bills. The meeting featured extensive testimony from community leaders, legal advocates, and residents emphasizing the need for stronger local policies to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement (ICE) and protect immigrant communities. Key points included restricting city data access to ICE, prohibiting informal information sharing, and ensuring enforcement and transparency through annual reporting. The council members considered amendments and motions for multiple bills (numbers 260056 through 260062), all of which were adopted with favorable recommendations and suspensions of rules to permit first readings at the next session. The legislation aims to codify protections beyond existing executive orders, addressing concerns about civil rights, public safety, and economic impacts on immigrant-led businesses. No specific contract awards, procurement decisions, or budget allocations were discussed during this meeting.