The Dangers of Philadelphia's Far-left Sanctuary City Policies: New Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement released an interim staff report titled, "Philadelphia: The Dangerous Consequences of Sanctuary Policies." The report details how Philadelphia, led by far-left officials and guided by radical immigration policies, provides a safe haven for criminal aliens at the cost of Americans' safety. Philadelphia's District Attorney, Larry Krasner, gives foreign national criminals preferential prosecutorial treatment—leniency that similarly situated Americans do not receive—so that the criminal aliens may avoid immigration consequences.

Nonpublic documents and data obtained by the Committee and Subcommittee reveal the startling extent to which Philadelphia actively obstructs the enforcement of federal immigration law and shields foreign national criminals from accountability.

The Committee and Subcommittee's oversight reveals:

Because of Philadelphia's sanctuary policies, repeat and dangerous criminals have been released onto Pennsylvania streets. In 2026 alone, ICE has arrested multiple criminal aliens that Philadelphia released despite ICE detainers, including aliens with criminal histories that included strangulation, aggravated assault, stalking, and assault of a child;
Over a two-and-a-half year period, Philadelphia refused to honor a single ICE detainer. From January 1, 2024, through July 1, 2026, the City of Philadelphia "received 162 administrative ICE detainers" and did not honor even one;
The City of Philadelphia has distanced itself from the inflammatory anti-ICE rhetoric and actions of Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal and Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. In communications with the Committee and Subcommittee, the City of Philadelphia, including the Philadelphia Police Department, emphasized that Bilal and Krasner "are separately elected officials whose statements are wholly separate and not endorsed by Mayor Cherelle Parker's Administration"; and
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner treats dangerous foreign nationals differently than U.S. citizens—all so that criminal aliens can avoid deportation and remain in the United States indefinitely. Krasner's Policy on Avoiding Unjust Immigration Outcomes ensures prosecutors in his office give preferential treatment to foreign nationals based solely on their immigration status.

This interim report provides evidence of the ways in which just one jurisdiction has implemented policies that allow dangerous foreign nationals to reoffend and avoid deportation. But Philadelphia and District Attorney Krasner are not outliers. They are indicative of a modern Democrat Party that seeks to erase national borders and place illegal alien criminals ahead of law-abiding American citizens. The policies supported by these Democrats, including sanctuary policies, will have negative and lasting consequences for Americans. The Committee and Subcommittee will continue to conduct oversight of these sanctuary policies to inform potential legislative reforms to better protect American communities.

Read the full interim staff report here.

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