Demand Action: Protect Delaware's Immigrant Communities

Delaware is not immune from anti-immigrant attacks.

Since January, ICE presence has dramatically increased across our state and enforcement tactics continue to become more aggressive. Instances of warrantless searches and daily traffic stops have upended the lives of our community members, leaving many afraid to go to work or take their children to school. Since Trump took office, there’s been an average of 1.6 ICE arrests in Delaware per day — in a two-week period from the end of July to the beginning of August, at least 20 individuals were detained by ICE.

We know this situation will continue to grow more dire. In this critical moment, Delaware must continue to fight back and build our Firewall for Freedom. Our state took meaningful strides toward protecting immigrant communities during the 2025 legislative session — banning 287(g) agreements between local law enforcement and ICE, advancing a slate of pro-immigrant legislation, and banning citizens’ arrests — but we cannot allow our elected officials to stop here.

We need you to join us in demanding that Delaware’s elected officials act during the 2026 legislative session to protect our immigrant communities. By signing this petition, you are calling up our elected officials to pass legislation to:

• Protect sensitive locations in Delaware,
• Create safe interactions with law enforcement; and
• Prevent racial profiling by law enforcement. 

Protect Sensitive Locations in Delaware. 

Across Delaware, members of the immigrant community are living in fear — terrified to to send their kids to school or seek medical care when sick out of fear of being arrested at schools or medical facilities. This policy does nothing to make our communities safer, however there are steps we can take to protect vital community spaces and ensure that everyone can access necessary care and help.

Our elected officials must pass legislation to limit state and local law enforcement from engaging in immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant at locations that are vital for all people to be healthy and exert their rights like schools, medical facilities and courthouses. This legislation will help guarantee our state remains a place where all people — regardless of immigration or citizenship status — can live without fear, contribute fully, and are guaranteed their civil rights and liberties.

Create Safe Interactions with Law Enforcement

Right now, across the country, people are being arrested in violent raids by masked, unidentified agents who refuse to answer basic questions about who they are. Without any identification, the public has no way of knowing if they’re interacting with legitimate government officials or impersonators. Additionally, agents who are able to shield their identity are often emboldened to act more recklessly and lawlessly, increasing the risk of civil liberties violations.

This is why it is critical for Delaware to pass legislation requiring law enforcement to show their face and identify themselves. This legislation will reduce fear, mistrust, and danger in interactions between the public and government agents and allow the community to hold law enforcement accountable.

Prevent Racial Profiling by Law Enforcement

Racial profiling has long been used to target communities of color without evidence of criminal activity. Now, ICE agents are increasingly turning to racial profiling to achieve their 3000 per day detention quotas. We are also witnessing an influx of untrained and unequipped officers from other agencies conducting immigration enforcement, many of whom rely on profiling practices to assist them in their new roles.

Our elected officials must pass legislation that makes clear that profiling individuals or communities based on race or suspected immigration status is illegal and will not be tolerated in our state.  Racial profiling undermines basic trust in local law enforcement, alienates immigrant communities, and leads to individuals with legal status and even U.S. citizens being targeted. These practices are blatantly unconstitutional and have no place in Delaware.