Together, we will mobilize against the cruel weaponization of our federal government. First, we must recognize what is really happening in our communities, and then let’s focus on five things each of us can do to stand up for what is right.
The President and his administration are assaulting, detaining, and killing American citizens and immigrants alike. ICE is terrorizing our communities: from our most vulnerable immigrant neighbors to the people who step in to protect them. Over 50 people have died in ICE or CBP custody in the past year, and an unknown number have been detained, jailed, and attacked. This is not justice. This is not public safety. This is state-sanctioned violence.
We are witnessing the corruption of what should be a non-violent administrative system. ICE must be dissolved in order to rebuild credibility in American governance and democracy. We cannot reform an agency whose purpose has become fear, punishment, and intimidation.
We are outraged. We do not have the luxury of waiting for change after another election cycle. ICE under this administration is already operating in Montgomery County.
We need to organize for action now. In order to do this most effectively, we must support and amplify the groups, organizers, and community members who have been on the ground in this work for the past year and longer. They have been responding to raids, documenting abuses, protecting families, and holding the line while too many in power looked away. Our communities are safer today because of their courage and leadership.
As your State Representative, I will do everything I can to protect our communities. This includes showing up against injustice, advocating for reform with every platform available, and supporting the ongoing work of local government and community-led organizations to safeguard our neighbors and communities. State leadership matters. Federal government officials do not operate in isolation. They are informed by state systems, state resources, and state silence.
This is a moment that demands clarity and courage from elected officials at every level. We all have a role and responsibility in helping shape federal immigration policy. It’s my belief that as your State Representative, I will be your voice in rooms of government power. Never silent, always present. Resistance to this corruption and must be visible, coordinated, and rooted in the leadership of those most impacted.
The Lower Merion Police Department is asking people to call 911 to report any confirmed or suspected ICE activities in Lower Merion Township.
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There are ways to mobilize for a better tomorrow. These are my top five actions I believe we all should support today:
● Contact our US Senators Fetterman and McCormick to vote AGAINST the upcoming Department of Homeland Security annual funding package (HR 7147). No federal money should flow into ICE or CBP until there is new leadership that is held accountable. You can call Sen. Fetterman’s office at 202-224-4254 and write him a message by clicking here. You can call Sen. McCormick’s office at 202-224-6324 and write him a message by clicking here. A full post on how to contact our US Senators has been posted online by State Senator Amanda Cappelletti here. These actions do make a difference. Thank you to everyone calling, writing, and showing up to demonstrate support for them voting against funding until immediate changes are made.
● Ensure our local and county governments have robust plans in place to do all they can to keep our residents safe should ICE fully deploy into our communities. For over a decade school districts and local governments in PA have been adopting policies to not work with ICE, and now is time to build on them with additional proactive steps they can take as well. It’s vital for our local governments to lead when federal and state governments don’t move. Who will help send out alerts if ICE is in town, or communicate with nonprofits to make sure that people are being helped with food and shelter? You can contact your local government officials to ask them: “What are you going to do to keep our neighbors safe from ICE?”
If you live in LM, you can look up and contact your Lower Merion Township Commissioner online here.
If you live in Narberth, you can reach out to your Narberth Borough Council members online here.
If you live in Whitemarsh, you can reach out to your Whitemarsh Township Supervisors here.
● Follow important calls to action by local immigrant organizations and allies. There will be rallies and marches ahead. Dress warmly and make your voice heard. Consistently visible public outrage and boycotts make a difference. The next rally will be tonight, Friday, January 30th at 6pm at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. There will be calls for food and mutual aid. There will be calls for rapid response assistance. Help. Several leading organizations that we can support and follow in providing resources to immigrant neighbors include:
ACLAMO (Norristown)
Welcome Project PA (Hatboro)
HIAS Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)
Project Libertad (Phoenixville)
Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition (PIC)
Montgomery County Office of Immigrant Affairs
Additional specific actions in Montgomery County noted by Indivisible Greater Jenkintown online here
● We must back meaningful organizing work in more conservative-held legislative districts against ICE and the terror coming from the Department of Homeland Security. Supporting civic organizations advancing effective messages of inclusion and dignity for all — what our real American values aspire to be — should be highly prioritized. We must flip seats for pro-decency candidates, but not all will turnover. We need the culture of local communities to change — which influences the temperature of the rooms of the legislators representing them. This is the long-term democracy work that needs to be expedited even through these moments of crisis and remains unattractive. I don’t believe a central database exists of these organizations doing the work. It’s time for one to be built. More local communities can partner to support a specific region of the state. Imagine when advocates in Lower Merion show up to support from behind key Lancaster County leaders with organizing capacity, skills, funding, and heart, to motivate even just a hundred new voters in their part of Pennsylvania. That’s the energy and focus we must have in 2026. When there are calls to get involved in the work in purple and red areas of Pennsylvania, and you have the capacity: it’s important as ever to say yes.
● Call your state legislators to back the series of pro-Pennsylvania bills that would protect our commonwealth as best as possible from ICE’s terror while safeguarding immigrants.
The Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus this week released a statement highlighting their legislative and administrative priorities to save and protect lives. I support this statement and calls for action.
As your State Representative, I will be proud to support the following bills:
• HB 1872 (Salisbury): Prohibit the Pennsylvania State Police from performing immigration arrests
• HB 1880 (Friel): The Officer Visibility Act
• HB 1968 (Pielli): Hold ICE accountable for unlawful search and seizure practices
• HB 1113 (Smith Wade-El): Establish an Office of New Pennsylvanians to support immigrant inclusion, economic opportunity, and civil rights across the commonwealth
• HB 1804 (Bizzaro): The Protect Pennsylvanians Act
• HB 1281 (Hohenstein): To help victims of serious crimes secure legal status
• HB 1518 (Burgos): Expand access to obtaining driver’s licenses for immigrants to improve our economy, and safety on the road
• HB 1223-1231 (Cepeda-Freytiz): Remove arbitrary citizenship requirements from professional licenses and membership on licensing boards
To be introduced:
• A resolution demanding federal accountability in DHS and ICE enforcement and withholding appropriations until reforms are enacted (Khan)
• Legislation prohibiting state dollars being spent on federal immigration enforcement (Pielli)
• Legislation prohibiting police immigration enforcement agreements (Boyd)
• Legislation to document ICE civil liberties violations (Friel)
• Legislation to guarantee access to legal counsel for immigrants facing detention or deportation
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With Respect and Remembrance
Since last month, ICE has killed at least nine people:
Keith Porter, Jr., 43
Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, 42
Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55
Víctor Manuel Díaz, 36
Parady La, 46 (an Upper Darby resident)
Renee Nicole Good, 37
Luis Beltrán Yáñez–Cruz, 68
Heber Sánchez Domínguez, 34
Alex Pretti, 37
ICE has assaulted, deported, and harmed so many neighbors across our nation. This violence must be known no more in our country.
“Are you okay?” —Alex Pretti
“I’m not mad at you.” —Renee Nicole Good
“I can’t breathe.” —Eric Garner
“I can’t breathe.” —George Floyd, Jr.
“Why do you have your guns out?” —Kenneth Chamberlain, Sr.
“I don’t have a gun, stop shooting.” —Michael Brown
The cruel and senseless weaponization of our law enforcement must end. I believe in a Pennsylvania and America that protects and welcomes all, including immigrants, Black and brown neighbors, people with disabilities, and people whose first language may not be English. I firmly support our local officers and state troopers who are committed to justice and safety. Thank you to our Pennsylvania, Lower Merion, Whitemarsh, and Narberth law enforcement who are bravely serving our communities in upholding our state and federal Constitutions.
Toni Morrison once wrote: “We cannot be optimistic, but we can be clear.” We have some devastating days ahead, but in community rooted in truth and power we will rise to meet this moment. The march for justice continues.
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About Jason Landau Goodman
Jason is a fourth generation resident of Lower Merion running to become the next State Representative for the 148th House District. Jason is an attorney in Montgomery County and a lifelong advocate for civil rights, education, and the environment.
landaugoodman.com