York Mayor Sandie Walker and Council President Edquina Washington Commit to Enacting York City Trust Act

YORK, Pa. — Resolving a protracted municipal policy debate that has divided city government for more than two years, York Mayor Sandie Walker and York City Council President Edquina Washington announced a unified executive and legislative commitment on September 4 to formally advance and enact the York City Trust Act.

The landmark policy agreement, reached during a joint public forum hosted in collaboration with immigrant advocacy coalition CASA, establishes an enforceable administrative framework governing municipal interactions with immigrant and refugee residents across York County. Under the terms of the Trust Act ordinance, municipal personnel, city administrative departments, and the York City Police Department will be prohibited from inquiring into an individual's citizenship or immigration status during routine municipal services, code inspections, or traffic stops, while barring the use of city facilities or personnel for civil federal immigration enforcement unless mandated by a judicial warrant.

The measure marks a significant governing realignment for the historic south-central Pennsylvania city. In late 2024, the York City Council passed a prior version of the legislation, only to face an executive veto from former mayor Michael Helfrich, who raised concerns that the ordinance might risk federal and state intergovernmental grant eligibility under contested interpretations of sanctuary jurisdiction statutes. A subsequent council override vote narrowly fell short of the four-vote supermajority required under the city’s home-rule charter.

With Mayor Sandie Walker now directing the city’s executive branch alongside Council President Edquina Washington’s legislative leadership, municipal officials confirmed that revised statutory language has been crafted to withstand legal challenges while preserving city eligibility for federal community policing and infrastructure block grants.

"Public safety and municipal trust are inseparable," Mayor Sandie Walker stated during the announcement in York. "When residents fear that calling for emergency medical help, reporting a neighborhood crime, or taking their children to a city recreation center could lead to deportation or detention, our entire community is made less safe. The Trust Act establishes clear, commonsense guardrails that protect constitutional due process, foster open cooperation with local police, and ensure that all residents can engage with their municipal government with dignity and confidence."

Council President Edquina Washington echoed the necessity of codifying the policy into permanent municipal ordinance, noting that relying on informal administrative directives leaves vulnerable populations susceptible to abrupt policy reversals between electoral administrations.

The municipal compact reflects a broader policy dynamic taking shape across Pennsylvania under the administration of Governor Josh Shapiro. Across several Commonwealth municipalities—including Philadelphia, Allentown, and Lancaster—local leaders have instituted localized trust policies to enhance public safety reporting while maintaining standard compliance with state and federal criminal statutory mandates.

Community leaders from CASA commended the mayoral and council leadership for bridging past administrative divides, emphasizing that immigrant families contribute significantly to York’s commercial revitalization, small business workforce, and school districts.

The York City Council is scheduled to formally introduce the finalized Trust Act ordinance during its upcoming legislative session, with committee hearings and final enactment anticipated before the close of the calendar year.