ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Allentown City Council unanimously approved an ordinance on Wednesday night that encourages the city administration to obtain a «welcoming city» rating from Welcome America, a national nonprofit organization. The ordinance formalizes the city’s existing practices of providing municipal services without regard to immigration or refugee status and establishes a framework to operate under during uncertain times.

The ordinance aligns Allentown with other Pennsylvania cities like Lancaster and Erie, which have already passed similar Welcoming City policies. It also sets a goal for the city to obtain and maintain a rating of no less than three stars from Welcome America by 2025, with recertifications every three years thereafter.

Allentown has a long history of welcoming immigrants, dating back to its founding in 1762. Currently, 24.3% of its population is foreign-born, 54.3% identifies as Hispanic, and 51.3% speak a language other than English at home. The city’s school district serves students from 43 countries, speaking 26 different languages. Additionally, Allentown has one of the highest per capita immigrant and refugee resettlement populations in the nation.

The three-hour special meeting leading up to the vote was marked by debate and public engagement.

Councilmember Ce-Ce Gerlach initially proposed a version of the ordinance that would have mandated the city to obtain and maintain a welcoming city rating, with a minimum score of three stars from Welcome America. She argued that codifying these practices was necessary.

«If it’s not written, it doesn’t exist,» Gerlach said, emphasizing that while the city already functions as a welcoming community, official documentation would solidify this commitment.

However, Mayor Matt Tuerk, Police Chief Charles Roca, and several councilmembers opposed the original mandate. Council solicitor Maria Montero warned that as Welcome America is a nongovernmental entity, failing to meet its criteria could expose the city to potential legal challenges.

Tuerk reassured that existing city policies already prevent law enforcement from inquiring about individuals’ immigration status, stating, «We don’t ask about documentation status when we engage someone who’s committed a crime or someone who’s witnessed a crime.»

Council Vice President Cynthia Mota, who immigrated from the Dominican Republic as a child, made an emotional plea in favor of the ordinance, sharing that her own children live in fear due to their background. «I know what it’s like to live in the shadows,» Mota said. She added that her 13-year-old daughter was afraid to go to school and her 14-year-old son had come up with an escape plan in case of an immigration raid.

Public turnout for the meeting was high, with many attendees forced to remain outside due to space constraints. Community members, including religious leaders, activists, and students, voiced support for the legislation during a two-hour public comment period.

Following public input, Gerlach amended the ordinance to remove the mandate and instead make the rating a recommendation. The revision was accepted by the mayor, police chief, and legal counsel, leading to the ordinance’s unanimous passage.