Undocumented and essential: How immigrants keep Philadelphia running

Philadelphia is a city built on resilience, grit, and the tireless work of its people. Among the most dedicated are immigrants—dreamers, doers, and entrepreneurs who make invaluable contributions to our city. Yet, amid intensified federal enforcement and mounting challenges, it is critical to recognize the undeniable truth: undocumented immigrants are essential to Philadelphia’s economy, culture, and future.

Undocumented immigrants are the hidden backbone of many industries that sustain our city. They help our restaurants thrive, build our homes, care for our children, and ensure our buildings remain clean and operational. Their work isn’t just valuable, it’s irreplaceable. The ripple effects of these workers being swiftly removed from the equation are now palpable in many communities. Who will prepare our meals, paint our buildings, or keep essential small businesses alive? The reality is that their labor keeps our economy running, and yet, their contributions remain largely undervalued.

Immigrants in our communities are gripped by uncertainty, retreating from daily life and disappearing into the shadows. I have reports from business owners about the dramatic drop in customer traffic, as fear keeps people from venturing into local shops. These small businesses—often the lifeblood of our neighborhoods—are not struggling because of market shifts or new competition, but because their communities are paralyzed by fear.

We don’t have to look far to see what happens when immigrants are driven out of a community. Cities like Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and Riverside, New Jersey, experienced economic consequences after anti-immigrant policies and sentiment drove immigrants away. Small businesses shuttered, neighborhoods lost residents, and tax revenues declined. These cautionary tales remind us that intolerance towards immigrants hurts us all—undermining not just individual livelihoods but the shared prosperity of entire cities and regions.

The truth is that the United States has a real and pressing need to modernize its immigration laws. There is consensus that the system is outdated, inefficient, and disconnected from the realities of today’s labor market. We need policies that reflect the economic value immigrants bring to our nation, address workforce shortages, and provide a humane and realistic path forward for undocumented individuals already living here.

But as we work toward immigration reform, we must hold steadfast to our values. We cannot allow the pursuit of a better system to come at the expense of our principles of fairness, inclusion, and dignity. Reform must recognize the humanity of those it impacts—undocumented immigrants are not just workers; they are parents, neighbors, and community members who share the same dreams we all have for a better future.

Behind every immigrant is a story of resilience. There’s the single mother who wakes up at 4 a.m. to prepare food for her catering business, the father who works double shifts to put his children through school, and the young entrepreneur launching a startup while navigating the barriers of legal purgatory. These stories deserve to be heard—not as tales of struggle, but as testaments to perseverance, ingenuity, and the desire to build a better future.

Philadelphia has long been a sanctuary, a city where diversity is not just tolerated but celebrated. It’s part of what makes this city strong. Our city thrives because of its people, all its people. Let us reject the spread of unnecessary fear and embrace the fact that undocumented immigrants are not a burden—they are essential.