On Monday, April 13, Dr. Ahmet Tekelioglu, the executive director of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) plans to testify before the Philadelphia City Council in support of ICE Out legislation.
The hearing will take place:
Monday, April 13, 2026
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Philadelphia City Hall, 4th Floor
1400 JFK Blvd, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Tekelioglu’s testimony will highlight how aggressive immigration enforcement practices intersect with longstanding patterns of surveillance, profiling, and civil liberties concerns—particularly for Muslim communities, many of whom include immigrants, refugees, and mixed-status families.
“From a civil rights perspective, the issue is not limited to immigration enforcement authority—it is about how these practices erode constitutional protections, undermine trust in public institutions, and create fear around everyday civic participation,” said Dr. Tekelioglu. “For communities with a lived history of surveillance, concerns about data-sharing and enforcement are both real and well-founded.”
In January, the ICE Out legislative package was introduced in City Council with 15 of 17 Councilmembers signing on as co-sponsors. The upcoming hearing marks a critical step toward passage, including the first of two required votes.
The ICE Out legislation aims to:
- Protect community spaces by limiting ICE access to non-public areas of city-owned or managed buildings
- Prevent the use of city property for immigration enforcement or ICE staging
- Strengthen limits on collaboration with ICE, including preventing deputization of local law enforcement
- Safeguard personal data by restricting information-sharing for immigration enforcement purposes
- Establish immigration and citizenship status as a protected class under Philadelphia’s Fair Practices framework
CAIR-Philadelphia emphasized that while existing executive policies have attempted to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, they do not fully address gaps in data governance, inter-agency coordination, and indirect information-sharing pathways.
“Codifying these protections into law through the ICE Out package is essential,” Dr. Tekelioglu added. “It will provide clarity, accountability, and durability—ensuring that no city resources, including data, are used in ways that place residents at risk.”
CAIR-Philadelphia is urging community members and allies to attend the hearing and demonstrate broad public support for the legislation.
“We encourage Philadelphians to show up, stay engaged throughout the day, and make their voices heard,” said Dr. Tekelioglu. “Strong community presence is critical to ensuring that City Council acts decisively to protect civil rights and uphold the values of this city.”
Attendees are encouraged to bring identification and plan to remain for an extended period.
CAIR-Philadelphia is a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu, atekelioglu@cair.com; 617-401-5397