Latest news with #CasaSanJose
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump administration names Pittsburgh, Allegheny County as ‘sanctuary jurisdictions'
There is added pressure from the Trump administration on what it calls 'sanctuary jurisdictions.' The Department of Homeland Security released a list of states and cities considered to be in violation of federal immigration laws. Both Pittsburgh and Allegheny County are on the list. 'I think it's funny. I think it's funny we're still using this narrative that immigrants are bad,' Monica Ruiz said. She's the Executive Director of the nonprofit organization Casa San Jose. The organization works with immigrants and refugees. 'Allegheny County nor the City of Pittsburgh are doing anything that is illegal,' Ruiz said. According to the Department of Homeland Security, both are 'shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities and are protecting 'dangerous criminal aliens.' Ruiz disagrees. 'These people are not criminals. These are people driving to work, taking their children to school. When you talk about trying to crack down on criminals, it's the opposite of what's happening,' she said. Channel 11 did reach out to county and city leaders. County Manager John Fournier told us they have not received any formal communication from the federal government and will have 'no further comment until we can evaluate their recommendations.' Mayor Ed Gainey says the city is not by definition a sanctuary city and added 'We honor and protect our immigrant neighbors' and 'we refuse to betray them.' The mayor also went on to say the city is pursuing every option to protect federal funding. In April, a federal judge barred the administration from denying funding to sanctuary jurisdictions. DHS did not specify what actions would be taken against the jurisdictions but did say local leaders would receive formal notification of non-compliance. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
4 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Pittsburgh-area community leaders receive reports about 2 immigration raids
Jaime Martinez, the community defense organizer with Casa San Jose, said the non-profit organization's hotline received multiple reports on Wednesday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity in the eastern part of the city. "We heard of five different detentions yesterday alone," said Martinez of Casa San Jose, which serves immigrant communities. One of the detentions happened in Wilkinsburg. Video shows a Hispanic man in handcuffs being walked by FBI agents into a van. KDKA has learned those agents were assisting the Department of Homeland Security with immigration enforcement. Wilkinsburg Mayor Dontae Comans posted about it on his Facebook page on Wednesday. "Everyone here, we're family," Comans said on Thursday. "We're Wilkinsburg, and we just want to protect each other. We have ordinances that protect everyone, no matter what part of life you're from." KDKA's Mamie Bah asked, "What do you say to people who say you shouldn't be here illegally?" "That's how this country started." Mayor Comans said. "It's all about getting that path to being a resident, and I feel like we need to help them." Comans shared photos with KDKA of federal agents in Braddock. The borough's mayor was caught off guard by the presence of agents. "I'm just unaware that they were in our neighborhoods, in our boroughs," said Mayor Delia Lennon-Winstead. "Would you cooperate with ICE agents if they reached out to you all?" Bah asked. "Being an elected official and under the seat of the mayor, I would do my best to help and cooperate," Mayor Lennon-Winstead said. In a statement to KDKA, a spokesperson for the FBI wrote, in part, "The FBI in Pittsburgh continues to provide investigative, technical, and analytical support to our partners at the Department of Homeland Security in their immigration operations all over the region as directed by the attorney general." Martinez's wish is that people in the community look out for one another. "Our community is under attack," Martinez said. "Be a good neighbor, that means being on the lookout for where ICE is, calling our hotline." Casa San Jose's emergency response line is 412-736-7167.
