Cold Reality: Uncovering the Cruelty and Chaos of ICE Operations in Pennsylvania

Cold Reality: Uncovering the Cruelty and Chaos of ICE Operations in Pennsylvania is a research report published by the ACLU of Pennsylvania and the Farmworker Legal Aid Clinic at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. 

The report uncovers the cruel, inhumane, and racist tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Pennsylvania by examining nearly 2,500 I-213 records – the form used by the Department of Homeland Security to make the case for deportation of an undocumented person. The I-213 records cover more than 16,000 arrests made by ICE in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2020.  

The report alleges a widespread pattern of racism and family separation by ICE. It also details how ICE works with state and local law enforcement. The report recommends key policy changes in how Pennsylvania interacts with federal immigration agencies. These include urging Pennsylvania lawmakers and other state decision makers to fund universal representation for people in deportation proceedings in the commonwealth; ending ICE collaboration with state and local law enforcement; closing all Pennsylvania immigration detention facilities; and making driver's licenses available to all Pennsylvania residents, regardless of their immigration status.