Despite the absence of large-scale immigration sweeps in Berks County, Pennsylvania, a region with a significant Latino demographic, a rising tide of enforcement activities nationwide has set residents, local businesses, and activists on edge. The state of Pennsylvania is home to over one million immigrants, and recent census data from 2023 estimates that almost 200,000 of these are undocumented. Specifically within Berks County, unauthorized immigrants numbered around 7,000 in 2019. Concurrently, the region serves as the residence for numerous U.S. citizens of Puerto Rican origin or those naturalized from countries like the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
There is a noted history of wrongful detentions of Latino citizens by ICE in other states, further heightening the sense of anxiety in this community. Local advocates for immigrant rights report a pervasive climate of fear due to ICE’s intensified activities. These range from detentions at the county courthouse to employers terminating employment due to uncertain immigration status, and even adults avoiding English as a Second Language (ESL) classes because of apprehension.
With the Trump administration in power, there has been a notable escalation in administrative arrests and detentions by ICE. The government has also curtailed, or in some cases completely halted, programs enabling immigrants to stay legally within the country. Several initiatives, such as Temporary Protective Status (TPS) and various humanitarian parole programs, are slated for termination later in the year. The future of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program also remains in limbo, as it is currently suspended indefinitely.
Apprehensions by ICE have increased nationally and there are 13 average arrests on a daily basis since President Trump’s inauguration, seeing a surge of 249% since 2024. Focusing on the Lehigh Valley area, ICE nabbed 17 individuals who engaged in work at an uninhabited property due to ‘immigration violations’ in June. The same month witnessed 14 persons arrested in Pittsburgh and three others in the northeastern region of Pennsylvania during corresponding sweeps. Norristown in Montgomery County is another location that has been significantly impacted by raids and apprehensions.
Although large-scale arresting operations haven’t become a regular feature in Berks, the administration’s immigration policies are being executed in multitude other ways by ICE in the county. Ranging from petty offenses like traffic violations and disorderly conduct to more grave crimes, individuals are apprehended at the Berks County Courthouse post their respective hearings. Other individuals who had their criminal charges dismissed also fell prey to ICE engagements due to their non-permanent resident status.
Community meetings often shed light on the anxieties shared by community members regarding ICE and the changing immigration policies. Reports of ICE’s presence in areas of Reading have been shared, including a powerful account from a local bodega owner describing a sense of ‘helplessness’ when an ICE agent performed an unsolicited inspection of his kitchen while searching for an ex-employee.
Contrasting law enforcement strategies are adopted across cities, with Reading being an example where officials commit to not assist ICE in implementing arrests or raids. Following Trump taking office, Reading’s Mayor Eddie Moran announced that local police will abstain from the enforcement of immigration laws. The upkeep of public safety in Reading, he emphasized, hinges on a trust bond between residents and law enforcement. This policy extends to protecting private properties from being accessed by ICE without proper facilitation.
Other jurisdictions within Berks County are more inclined to collaborate with federal law enforcement institutions. There is no area within the county, however, that holds a formal understanding with ICE to aid the agency in carrying out arrests. But, local officials have spoken about lending ‘logistical support’ to ICE during their operations if a need arises, emphasizing that immigration enforcement falls under ICE’s purview and township police officers wouldn’t actively seek undocumented individuals.
The Temporary Protected Status program, which offers immigrants from countries experiencing armed conflicts or disasters the right to legally reside and work in the U.S., is also under scrutiny by the current administration. Plans are underway to revoke these protections for immigrants originating from countries such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
This imminent change in policy has raised apprehensions that participation in adult ESL classes may diminish. To mitigate such concerns, the program initiated an online version of the course in January, ensuring that students who are fearful of leaving their houses can still partake in language learning. By the semester’s end, fears had abated somewhat with the bulk of students continuing to attend in-person classes.
The post Rising Immigration Enforcement Fuels Anxiety in Berks County appeared first on Real News Now.
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