Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso de Padilla and State Rep. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) joined raucous protesters on Saturday night outside a hotel where federal agents are believed to be staying.
Barroso de Padilla told WOSU that while she and Hardin will "follow the letter of the law," they wanted to join residents who are making it clear that they don't want Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents in the community.
"We did not invite ICE into our community, and we are not trying to be hospitable hosts," Barroso de Padilla said.
ICE recently confirmed "Operation Buckeye" is taking place in Columbus, and is meant to target "the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Columbus and throughout Ohio."
Over the weekend, ICE released a list of 10 people agents have arrested since Jan. 20. ICE did not answer a question about how many people have been detained since the start of Operation Buckeye.
Increased reports of ICE activity on social media last week led to several protests over the weekend, including some at hotels where ICE agents are supposedly staying.
The loud demonstrations lasted late into the night as residents sought to disrupt the federal agents' sleep.
RELATED: Reports of increased ICE activity spark response from Columbus city officials and police
Barroso de Padilla said there were "credible" reports that ICE agents were at the Embassy Suites on Corporate Exchange, off I-270 near Westerville, where she, Hardin and Abudllahi joined protesters.
"Whether [ICE agents] were or weren't there, I think it is the symbolism of why people came together," Barroso de Padilla said.
She admitted the noise may have disturbed other hotel guests, but added that "a protest isn't meant to be comfortable for everyone."
"The challenge here is that when we're looking at the greater good and — again, we're being peaceful, we are being lawful — it is going be uncomfortable for other folks in the community," Barroso de Padilla said.
Barroso de Padilla called ICE's increased presence "an intimidation tactic" and a "tool to distract folks," from an economy that isn't working and bad policies.
She said the intimidation, fear and threat of arrests have had a community-wide impact.
"This is not something that just affects 'those people,' right? It's something that affects each and every one of us," Barroso de Padilla said.
