BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Dozens of community members attended the Bethlehem City Council meeting Tuesday to express concern following a recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on the city’s South Side.
The meeting came less than a week after ICE agents detained 17 people outside the 510 Flats apartment complex. The individuals had been working to repair building damage when federal agents arrived.
The Bethlehem Police Department received a courtesy notification from federal authorities shortly before the operation, but was not involved in the arrests.
During the meeting, some residents criticized the city’s response and called for greater transparency and protections for immigrant communities.
Mayor J. William Reynolds addressed the crowd and acknowledged the concerns raised.
“Cities are being targeted, which is obviously, on every level, un-American and wrong,” Reynolds said. “In many ways, we are unable to stop them or get information from them if they don’t want to give it to us.”
Federal authorities are not required to coordinate with local police departments before conducting immigration enforcement operations. City officials reiterated that Bethlehem police do not assist with civil immigration enforcement and encouraged residents to report any concerns about law enforcement behavior.
Public comment lasted several hours, with residents urging the city to take a stronger stance. Some advocated for a “welcoming city” ordinance or a moratorium on cooperation with ICE.
“They were taken without due process, which we all know is a right,” said Bethlehem resident Shay Sabo. “I’m here to ask why the city of Bethlehem is unwilling to vote on a welcoming city ordinance to protect undocumented residents. Is it because you think Bethlehem will be a target for increased federal presence related to immigration? Well, it’s happening anyway.”
Others expressed frustration with what they described as a lack of public communication from local officials.
“You did not come out,” said Sebastian Zawierucha, a Moravian University student. “You did not respond. The mayor says trust us, but I don’t see how I can trust you. You weren’t aware this was happening, but no action was taken even when you were alerted.”
City Council reminded attendees to avoid personal attacks or inflammatory language during public comment.
Some speakers called for additional support services for immigrant families and community members affected by enforcement actions. Michelle Downing, a Bethlehem resident and grandmother, wants city leadership to be more proactive.
“I keep hearing, ‘We can’t disrespect federal law,’ and ‘There’s nothing we can do,’ but all over the country I see elected officials showing up on the street, putting themselves between danger and their people,” Downing said. “Stop giving people the idea that they can meet with the police chief and everything’s going to be safe.”
Council members did not vote on any related resolutions Tuesday but said the matter would be discussed further at future meetings. Reynolds said the city continues to seek more information about the operation and reiterated support for residents.
“The opaqueness of not letting us know is minuscule compared to the opaqueness of what is happening to individuals being detained,” he said. “Some of whom, across the country, are being detained with all of their paperwork. With every T crossed and every I dotted.”
Reynolds concluded by calling for broader political engagement on the issue.
“It is an American tragedy. These are people who showed up to work 10, 11, 12 hours a day in 95-degree heat to clean a building for relatively wealthy people to come back and live there.” Reynolds said.
“Until we build a culture where everybody is as angry as 98% of people in this room, you’re not going to see the political pressure put on elected officials to utilize their constitutional power to be able to stop this.”
