Pennsylvania City Becomes Sanctuary for Illegal Immigrants

The Trust Act means Lancaster police won’t engage with federal authorities on matters involving illegal immigrants.

In this aerial view, a group of more than 1,000 illegal immigrants walks toward a U.S. Border Patrol field processing center after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 18, 2023. John Moore/Getty Images

LANCASTER, Pa.—The Lancaster city council recently ended police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement operations when it unanimously passed the Trust Act.

The act has been pitched as a path to safer communities by making illegal immigrants more comfortable speaking to police if they need to report a crime. Police and anyone employed by the city can’t ask about or respond to their immigration status.