Solidarity Lancaster

10/12/2026

Local police departments in neighboring York county have chosen to terrorize our immigrant community in order to profit off the arrests. We can see in real time the fear and erosion of trust created by local police signing 287(g) agreements with ICE.

“There’s a powerful case to be made that the surge in arrests by local police, and the fear that is keeping families behind locked doors and drawn shades, has made York County the most dangerous place for immigrants in the entire northeastern United States.”

…“Michelle Hines, a community activist with Solidarity Lancaster who’s called on her scientific background to analyze 287(g) arrests in south-central Pennsylvania, told me that many immigrants in Lancaster County must pass through Hellam on their way to immigration hearings or other government services in York. She begs them to somehow find a different route.

‘It’s better to not have a job than to drive through Hellam,’ she said. Hines said her analysis of an early batch of DHS records showed that 80% of the 287(g) arrestees in York County did not have a criminal record or pending charges.”

10/01/2026

“(President of PennAg Industries Association Chris) Herr said farmers already have a difficult time finding skilled laborers. Melhorn and other poultry service companies rely on their immigrant workforce to safely and efficiently move birds in and out of poultry houses while maintaining animal welfare and biosecurity standards, including during the latest response to bird flu, Herr added.

‘They’re phenomenal workers and have been instrumental in helping us address that outbreak,’ he said.

Herr declined to share details but said he’s aware of four or five other operations in the region facing similar immigration enforcement actions.

In many cases, the arrests are heartbreaking for the farmers, he said, and removing a significant part of the agricultural workforce puts the nation’s food supply at risk.”

The leader of a Pennsylvania ag group says recent immigration enforcement actions are hurting farmers and jeopardizing the nation’s food supply.

09/30/2026

“The administration is able to essentially hide a multiplied ICE force not only in unmarked cars, and not only behind masks, but also within local law enforcement through the 287(g) program. I call it the invisibilizing of immigration enforcement.’”

- Gracie Willis, rapid response attorney at the National Immigration Project

After public backlash, the Trump administration changed its tactics from ‘siege’ to ‘soft feet’. Now, ICE is everywhere

09/24/2026

09/24/2026

Lancaster County Agriculture runs on immigrant labor. We know it, the farmers know it, and our elected officials know it, too. But while we should expect our elected officials to be the loudest voices protecting our essential agriculture workers, instead we find them repeatedly demonizing immigrants and applauding their removal from the workforce.

Let us be clear: Lancaster’s agricultural economy will break down without immigrant labor. And this is not the only large-scale raid on our farms.

This isn’t keeping us safer but is instead harming our Ag Industry and local food supply.

During a time of skyrocketing food costs this will lead to higher prices, less availability, and punish some of the hardest workers in our community.

It’s time for elected officials, big agriculture, and the local business community to speak up! We KNOW these raids are not good for our community or our economy. Families are separated, the industry suffers, and nobody wins.

If you too are concerned about the targeting of local farm workers here are some steps you can take:

1. Call Lloyd Smucker. Acknowledge his support for legal pathways for undocumented farmworkers and tell him to get louder, because the future of Lancaster County Agriculture is at stake.

2. Call the Lancaster Ag Council and Chamber of Commerce. Ask them to speak out about this issue that is harming local Ag.

The truth is, we all benefit from immigrant farm labor. But these workers are under attack. It is time for our elected officials and agricultural community to get loud about protecting our essential immigrant workforce!

09/22/2026

‼️🚨URGENT ACTION NEEDED🚨‼️

We learned today that Pastor Molis Augustave of York, whose story we shared last week, had his green card application denied

We ask that you call Governor Josh Shapiro (717-787-2500), Senators Dave McCormick(202-224-6324) and John Fetterman(717-782-3951), and Congressman Lloyd Smucker (717-393-0667), regarding the denial of Pastor Molis’ green card application and ask for the following:

1) Transparency: Provide Pastor Molis Augustave and his attorneys with the reason for the denial of his 1-485 application (his application for permanent residence).

2) Stay his removal: Allow the Board of Immigration Appeals to review his motion to reopen, and give Molis the opportunity to review and pursue available legal remedies regarding the denial of his I-485.

3) Release Molis from detention: Allow him to return home to his family while his legal processes move forward.

The next deportation flight is scheduled for Thursday ‼️, so please call today.

You can also support him and his family financially here:
https://gofund.me/5e3746e51

09/19/2026

No child should have to sit in immigration court alone. We are lucky to have CWS - Lancaster Immigration & Refugee Program standing with unaccompanied minors who are increasingly being targeted by the administration. But the administration recently cancelled funding for immigrant children’s legal defense, and they cannot do it without OUR support. If you too believe that every child deserves protection and representation while navigating this cruel system, please donate to this program today. Donations are matched up to $200,000 and every donation counts, no matter how small.

09/17/2026

Pastor Molis’s deportation is CANCELLED today! Because of our people power, because all of us spoke out, he is still in the United States. He remains in ICE custody, but he was not deported to Haiti. Thank you to everyone who contacted their legislators.

But this fight is not over. Now, USCIS is charged with its responsibility to pursue a fair and thorough review of this father’s green card application. The review must be a thorough evaluation of his lawful permanent residency request and in no way retaliate against the pastor for demanding due process.

Call on Department of Homeland Security Secretary to fairly and thoroughly review his green card application.

https://wearecasa.org/free-pastor-molis/

09/17/2026

Great news! Pastor Molis’ scheduled deportation was stopped today. Thank you to everyone who called and wrote to stop his deportation. However the fight is not over, Pastor Molis still needs to be reunited with his family and returned home to York. We call on an expedited and fair review of his green card application so he can finally be home.

Pastor Molis’s deportation is CANCELLED today! Because of our people power, because all of us spoke out, he is still in the United States. He remains in ICE custody, but he was not deported to Haiti. Thank you to everyone who contacted their legislators.

But this fight is not over. Now, USCIS is charged with its responsibility to pursue a fair and thorough review of this father’s green card application. The review must be a thorough evaluation of his lawful permanent residency request and in no way retaliate against the pastor for demanding due process.

Call on Department of Homeland Security Secretary to fairly and thoroughly review his green card application.

https://wearecasa.org/free-pastor-molis/