State lawmakers release plans to protect PA immigrant communities

Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz March 26, 2025 | 1:16 PM

HARRISBURG, March 26 – Today, members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s Welcoming Caucus united at the Capitol to announce legislative initiatives to support families, fortify communities, protect workers and uphold the integrity of the legal system.

The Welcoming Caucus is a bicameral group of legislators dedicated to ensuring Pennsylvania remains a welcoming place of opportunity and connection. Members recognize the enormous contributions of immigrant communities and advocate for policies that promote social and economic justice and protect civil rights and freedoms.

As the Trump administration ramps up attacks on immigrant communities across the country, members of the Welcoming Caucus have introduced a suite of bills that seek to uphold and protect the rights of all Pennsylvanians.

The press conference to highlight the legislation was hosted by Rep. Joe Hohenstein, D-Phila, who chairs the Welcoming Caucus in the House, and Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Phila, who chairs the Welcoming Caucus in the Senate.

“My support for immigrant rights is based on my belief in the value of all working people. Organized labor was born in immigrant communities from the coal mines in Pennsylvania, sweatshops in New York and the grape harvests in California,” Hohenstein said. “I consider my work for immigrants to be the same as my work on behalf of the people of my neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Everyone wants safer communities, good jobs and a better future for our children. That is the common ground on which we need to stand against those who would divide us and deny access to the American dream to our friends and neighbors.”

"Integral to the story of our country, and our commonwealth, are the stories of people who come here seeking to build freer, more prosperous lives for themselves and their families," Saval said. "But right now, every aspect of our national story is under threat as the Trump administration escalates its attacks on immigrants of every legal status. Each step we take in the coming days and weeks and months and years to uphold the rights of immigrants—indeed, to uphold the Constitution, as legislators have taken an oath to do—must support the growth of Pennsylvania, expand the potential of our people, and protect the freedoms that all of us deserve."

Advocates from organizations dedicated to welcoming members of Pennsylvania’s immigrant and refugee communities joined legislators at today’s event.

Maria Hernandez is a founding member of Make the Road Pennsylvania’s Parents Committee and advocates for the rights of children harmed by the United States’ inequitable education, housing and immigration systems.

“Immigrants in this country are facing some of the worst attacks we’ve ever seen. Right-wing extremists’ goals are mass detention and deportation, tearing apart legal protections like DACA, gutting asylum rights, and actively criminalizing immigrant communities,” Hernandez said. “These attacks are real, coordinated and already happening. It’s on Pennsylvania’s state legislature, governor, local elected officials, and all of us to take real action to protect families, neighbors and communities before it’s too late. If Pennsylvania is truly a welcoming state, we need bolder action to protect us from the Trump administration's overreach that’s targeting all of us for simply exercising our rights.”

Rwamucyo Karekezi, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and came to the United States as a refugee, spoke today. He serves as the Refugee and Immigrant Community Organizer for Church World Service in Lancaster.

“Refugees like me, forced to leave their home to seek safety, came to this country based on a welcoming promise,” Karekezi said. “The Trump administration has abandoned this promise, and it’s up to Pennsylvania legislators to step up and step in to serve their constituents.”

Additional speakers at today’s news conference included:

State Rep. Danilo Burgos, D-Phila.
State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, D-Berks
State Rep. Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster
State Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks
State Sen. Sharif Street, D-Phila.
Julio Rodriguez, Political Director at the Pennsylvania Immigration and Citizenship Coalition
Cathryn Miller-Wilson, Executive Director of HIAS Pennsylvania