Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in the Columbus area detained more than 214 people from December 17-23, according to the Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA). Among those detained were legally-authorized immigrants, people with legal work permits and pending immigration cases and at least two U.S. citizens.
ICE named the series of raids “Operation Buckeye,” and claimed they were “targeting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens in Columbus and throughout Ohio.”
An ICE press release from December 20 said the operation began on December 16, and shows images of 10 men with various previous criminal convictions. Three of the men shown were detained before the start of “Operation Buckeye.”
The OIA released an analysis of those arrested in recent raids. They found 80% of those detained are Latino, and more than 90% male.
“80% of those arrests are Latino based on the internal report that we ran, which is appalling, which is considered as forced bias, we can say even racist targeting,” said Demba Ndiath, the Advocacy Director for the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.
The report also included an incident at a hotel near Easton Town Center on December 17 where ICE agents allegedly detained two U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico and a Mexican immigrant with a valid work permit.
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Ndiath said Columbus’ Somali community was also targeted by the raids.
“The Somali community is pretty much composed of people that have legal status. So some people have been arrested and later released,” he said. “But what is concerning is the fact that they were purposely targeted and arrested just based on the way they look or their origin.”
The OIA report also states that those detained are being held for civil reasons, not criminal.
Several groups, including the OIA, are organizing to support immigrant communities in the wake of the ICE raids. That support includes legal funds, grocery delivery, and a hotline.
ICE has not responded to WOSU’s request for comment.