HB 2376 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, providing for civil immigration arrests in houses of worship.

PRINTER'S NO.   3166

                      THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2376
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY KHAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, PIELLI, KENYATTA, VENKAT,
        N. NELSON, BOYD, BURGOS, PROBST, SOLOMON, MAYES, SHUSTERMAN,
        WAXMAN, CARROLL, BOROWSKI, GREEN, WARREN, VITALI, KAZEEM,
        RIVERA, K. HARRIS, FRIEL, PARKER, HILL-EVANS, FRANKEL,
        FIEDLER, D. WILLIAMS, SANCHEZ, GIRAL, MERSKI, HOHENSTEIN,
        STEELE, GUZMAN, CIRESI, CURRY AND O'MARA, APRIL 10, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, APRIL 13, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in riot, disorderly conduct and
 3      related offenses, providing for civil immigration arrests in
 4      houses of worship.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.     Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 8   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
 9   § 5518.    Civil immigration arrests in houses of worship.
10      (a)    Offense defined.--
11             (1)   Except as provided under paragraph (2), a
12      representative of a Federal, State or local law enforcement
13      authority may not detain, arrest or otherwise take into
14      custody a person located on the property of a house of
15      worship on the basis of immigration enforcement.
16             (2)   Paragraph (1) shall not apply when a representative
17      of Federal, State or local law enforcement is acting in the
 1      representative's official capacity and possesses on the
 2      representative's person the judicial warrant that clearly
 3      demonstrates that the person to be detained, arrested or
 4      otherwise taken into custody is the subject of a judicial
 5      warrant.
 6      (b)     Warrant disclosure.--If a representative of a Federal,
 7   State or local law enforcement authority effectuates an arrest
 8   on the basis of immigration enforcement on the property of a
 9   house of worship, the arresting representative shall be required
10   to provide the necessary documentation under subsection (a) to
11   any individual who requests to review the documentation.
12      (c)     Use of State appropriated money.--A representative of a
13   State or local law enforcement authority may not use State-
14   appropriated money or resources to conduct immigration
15   enforcement.
16      (d)     Civil penalty.--A person who violates this section shall
17   be subject to a civil penalty of $10,000 for each offense. A
18   penalty imposed under this section shall be paid to the
19   Commonwealth.
20      (e)     Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
21   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
22   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
23      "House of worship."     A church, synagogue, mosque or other
24   facility or place used for religious worship or other religious
25   purpose.
26      "Immigration enforcement."     An effort to investigate, enforce
27   or assist in the investigation or enforcement of a Federal civil
28   immigration law. The term includes an effort to investigate,
29   enforce or assist in the investigation or enforcement of a
30   Federal criminal immigration law that penalizes a person's

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 1   presence in, entry or reentry to or employment in the United
 2   States, including a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1253 (relating to
 3   penalties related to removal), 1324c (relating to penalties for
 4   document fraud), 1325 (relating to improper entry by alien) or
 5   1326 (relating to reentry of removed aliens).
 6      "Judicial warrant."   A written order that is signed by a
 7   judicial officer from a Federal Article III court or a State
 8   court of competent jurisdiction that directs a law enforcement
 9   agency or some other person who is specifically named in the
10   order to arrest a person.
11      "Law enforcement authority."   The term includes:
12          (1)   A member of the Pennsylvania State Police.
13          (2)   An individual employed in a position requiring
14      certification in accordance with 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating
15      to employees).
16          (3)   An officer or employee of any Federal agency.
17          (4)   Individuals acting on behalf of a Federal agency in
18      an official capacity, temporarily or permanently in the
19      service of the United States, whether with or without
20      compensation.
21      Section 2.   This act shall take effect immediately.




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