Bracing for ICE raids | Morning Newsletter
🏢 And Wanamaker Building redevelopment plans.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s Thursday, Philly, and man, it’s a hot one.
Philadelphia’s immigrant communities and allies are on edge, but building rapid-response networks to gird themselves for increased arrests by federal agents.
And the Wanamaker is becoming a mixed-use residential project. Here’s how the iconic Center City building’s new owners plan to transform the colossal department store into loft apartments.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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In Philadelphia, where rumors of mass immigration raids have proliferated in recent months, community organizations are sharing information on social media, offering know-your-rights workshops, and connecting families of people caught in arrests with legal services.
In context: These acts of resistance come amid heightened enforcement nationally from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, especially in workplaces, and as anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles escalate.
Speaking out: While some advocates are hesitant to be too publicly vocal for fear of reprisal, labor unions such as the SEIU are speaking out on behalf of their members, many of whom are foreign-born.
Or saying little: Meanwhile, local politicians’ responses to the surge in arrests of undocumented immigrants and corresponding activity have been mixed.
Reporters Ximena Conde and Michelle Myers have the latest.
In other political action news:
President Donald Trump’s lawyers cited a social media post from Sen. John Fetterman in their legal response to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s motion to block the deployment of troops in LA. The Democrat from Pennsylvania on Monday called the protests “anarchy and true chaos.”
No Kings Day rallies will be held across the country this Saturday to counter Trump’s birthday military parade. Philadelphia will be a focus.
New York developer TF Cornerstone, which won complete control of East Market Street’s Wanamaker Building at a foreclosure auction earlier this month, is redeveloping the historic department store with local partner Alterra Property Group.
🏢 The plan includes 600 loft-style apartments ranging from studios to three-bedroom units, similar to TF Cornerstone’s past projects in the Meatpacking District and the West Village of Manhattan.
🏢 Some existing floors of offices will be retained. The former Macy’s will be carved into multiple retail spaces.
🏢 But the Wanamaker presents unique challenges for residential redevelopment. For one: How do you let natural light into the middle of such a massive space?
Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart spoke to the developers to find out.
What you should know today
Steve Sweeney, the once-mighty South Jersey powerbroker, lost the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey, and it wasn’t even close. Is this the end of the machine?
Former Republican Ryan Crosswell is vying for a Lehigh Valley congressional seat as a Democrat.
A Philly man sentenced to 16 years in prison for shooting at a police officer was mistakenly released and moving freely for weeks, authorities said, before being arrested Wednesday.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has joined a multistate lawsuit filed to prevent 23andMe from selling consumer data as part of its bankruptcy proceedings.
A Lower Merion High School student said they were forced to remove a keffiyeh at graduation and escorted out by police.
Local trail advocates are concerned as the Department of Transportation has not signed contracts or made payments for five trail projects in Manayunk, Chester, and Camden.
Fifty-nine percent of Philadelphians believe the city is headed in the right direction — a big improvement since Pew Charitable Trusts surveyed residents in 2022.
For years, former Eagles coach Doug Pederson had to miss most of his son’s games. Now he’s “being a dad” full-time watching him play in the UFL.
Quote of the day
The Phillies have been slumping lately (minus that win against the Chicago Cubs Wednesday afternoon). We asked a sports psychologist if it’s all in their heads.
🧠 Trivia time
To mark the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Philadelphia event organizing committee installed what at Dilworth Park?
A) A statue of player Christian Pulisic
B) A video portal to other host cities
C) A countdown clock
D) A mural of Philly sports mascots dressed as soccer stars
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🍻 Delighted by: This secret British pub inside a Delco attorney’s law office.
🌮 Anticipating: The 19 restaurants due to open in June in the Philly area.
🏈 Buying: Eagles single-game tickets starting today at 10 a.m.
👗 Learning about: The city’s “fashion active” past via this Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibition.
🩺 Considering: How pediatricians can better meet vaccine-hesitant patients where they are.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: River Wards neighborhood
WON SHIFT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Lauren Quitmeyer, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Bustleton Avenue. ASR Food Market turned a converted Wawa into a hit. Now the halal market is taking over a Big Lots on the Northeast Philadelphia stretch.
Photo of the day
🦩 One last fabulous thing: Did you know a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance? I did not, but I am delighted to know it now. You can go see a newly expanded one at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Thanks for starting your Thursday with The Inquirer. Back at it tomorrow.
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