Demonstrators call for immigration reform, raise concerns about enforcement activity in Harrisburg over the weekend.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A rally at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Saturday brought out demonstrators calling for changes to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while raising concerns about possible ICE activity in the Harrisburg area.
Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Capitol Saturday afternoon, holding signs and chanting as protesters across the country gathered in response to the ICE involved shooting in Minneapolis.
Organizers said the rally was held in memory of Renee Nicole Goode, who was killed earlier this week by an ICE agent. They also used the gathering to speak out against what they described as increasingly aggressive immigration enforcement.
“People are really upset with ICE,” said Della Hoke of Hampton Township. “ICE seems to be able to act without any consequences and any accountability at all.”
Organizers said fear has been growing across the region, with concerns extending beyond undocumented immigrants. They claim some U.S. citizens and legal immigrants worry they could be detained without being given an opportunity to show documentation, making it difficult to know who to trust.
“There’s a concern that they’re [ICE] in the community, and it makes you suspicious about anybody that might be dressed in a certain way or driving a certain kind of car,” Hoke said. “It makes people suspicious of each other.”
On Saturday, rumors circulated on social media and within the community about possible ICE activity in the Harrisburg area, including at or near the Farm Show Complex. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.
Organizers said even the possibility of an increased ICE presence has heightened anxiety, particularly during the 110th Pennsylvania Farm Show, a major family-focused event. They emphasized the role immigrants play in Pennsylvania’s agricultural economy.
“It just seems like every day it’s something worse,” Hoke said. “Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does. Immigrants are a vital part of agriculture and the economy in Pennsylvania. We need people to pick the products — we have to have them.”
Immigration enforcement remains a deeply divisive issue nationwide. While supporters of ICE say the agency plays a necessary role in enforcing federal law and maintaining border security, critics argue reforms are needed to ensure accountability and protect families.
Organizers said Saturday’s rally was also about encouraging dialogue across the political spectrum, saying long-term solutions will require cooperation from both Republicans and Democrats.
“We can’t just sit by and let all of this happen to us and to our friends and neighbors,” Hoke said.
No arrests or confrontations were reported during Saturday’s demonstration.
