The city of Erie’s welcoming city status has been renewed, roughly two months after Erie City Council signed off on an ordinance that prohibits the city from supporting federal immigration enforcement actions, except in specific cases.
The city was recertified with a one-star rating, under the guidelines of the Decatur, Ga.-based national organization Welcoming America on April 21, according to Mary Wassell, the city’s media & public relations coordinator.
The certification is valid through April 2030.
Welcoming America encourages cities to become more inclusive regarding all residents, including immigrants and refugees. Erie was first named a welcoming city by the organization in 2020.
The organization also generally advocates against policies that target immigrants, such as the mass deportations and increased immigration enforcement/presence in American cities seen recently under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Mayor Daria Devlin has said that Erie needs a defined strategy regarding immigration enforcement “in order to continue our welcoming city status.”
Welcoming city ordinance
City Council on March 4 voted 6-1 for an ordinance outlining the city’s goals to obtain and/or maintain welcoming city status.
The ordinance states that city officials will not use city resources “to provide any information to immigration enforcement officials” unless that action is expressly authorized by the ordinance.
The ordinance also states that “the city shall not engage in, assist, or support immigration enforcement” except under the following circumstances:
- An articulated/direct threat to life or public safety;
- Cooperation is required to execute a judicial warrant/court order or to comply with existing federal and/or state law;
- When Erie police are assigned as task force officers on specific Department of Homeland Security investigations.
‘Intentional, inclusive policies’
Erie’s ordinance states the city will strive for no less than a three-star rating with Welcoming America. The organization stipulates that cities with a three-star rating must have policies in place clarifying “the jurisdiction and separation between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement agencies.”
The city’s ordinance states, among other things, that city officials, including police, will not “inquire into an individuals citizenship or immigration status” unless required to do so by state law/federal court order.
Even though the city’s recent recertification grants Erie a one-star rating, city officials are striving to attain a three-star rating as soon as possible.
Wassell said the city plans to apply for a higher welcoming city rating sometime this fall.
In addition, Wuji Ahmad, the city’s new American affairs coordinator, will travel to Decatur in June to attend Welcoming America training, according to city officials.
“Being a welcoming city goes far beyond friendliness,” Ahmad said. “It means adopting intentional, inclusive policies and practices that empower all residents to live, thrive, and contribute fully. Now that we have been recertified, the next step is building on that progress.”
