Philadelphia’s director of immigrant affairs resigns days into Trump administration

The head of Philadelphia’s Office of Immigrant Affairs has resigned and will leave Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration this week, a departure that comes as the city’s immigrant community is grappling with a new presidential administration that has promised mass deportations.

Amy Eusebio, who has been the director of the city’s Office of Immigrant Affairs since 2019, will serve her last day on Friday, according to the Parker administration. The city said a national search for a replacement is underway.

News of Eusebio’s departure comes just days into President Donald Trump’s second term and as he has taken a flurry of executive actions to carry out a promised crackdown on illegal immigration. It leaves Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania and home to an estimated 50,000 undocumented immigrants, with a vacant spot at the top of the office charged with serving those residents.

The Parker administration made the announcement hours after top city officials told local lawmakers that Philadelphia’s yearslong status as a sanctuary city remains intact, despite threats from the Trump administration to punish local officials who do not comply with federal immigration orders. Under city policy, officials limit their cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Eusebio referred questions to the Parker administration. Officials did not say why she is leaving her job with the city.

City Councilmember Kendra Brooks questioned Parker administration officials Wednesday about the vacancy — and several others — during a committee hearing on the city’s preparedness for the Trump White House. City Solicitor Renee Garcia, the city’s top lawyer, responded that the Parker administration is conducting interviews to fill vacancies.

The next director will enter the job at a time when both legal and undocumented immigrants are grappling with the ramifications of Trump’s immigration policy. His executive actions this week include a suspension of the refugee resettlement program and a controversial order to end birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the Constitution, that is already facing legal challenges.

A year before taking the helm of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, Eusebio was hired by the city to launch its first municipal ID program, which was met with high demand. She previously worked at the nonprofit Congreso de Latinos Unidos.

In a statement, she thanked the mayor and said she is grateful for the “many local, state and national partners I’ve had the pleasure of working with to advance immigrant inclusion and visibility.”