Columbus City Council is introducing a legislative package to push back against ICE enforcement, as Ohio Republican lawmakers push legislation to force cities to comply with the agency.
The council announced in a press release Friday the legislation will be aimed at securing the city's public spaces, buildings and property from ICE enforcement actions not authorized by judicial warrants. It will also manage information-sharing and partnerships with federal agencies, criminalize harassment at daycares and schools, investigate and store evidence of crimes committed against residents and prohibit the permitting of detention centers.
The press release said council will consider a resolution from the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs that demands that ICE adhere to the same professionalism, training, identification and accountability standards of officers of the Columbus Division of Police.
Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said in a statement Columbus is a city built by immigrants and it's the responsibility of local leaders to protect the trust that keeps communities safe.
“This legislative package reflects our commitment to ensuring that residents can go to work, take their children to school or seek help when they need it without fear. Columbus will continue to focus city resources on serving residents — not on federal immigration enforcement. We are standing firmly in support of dignity, due process and the welcoming spirit that defines our city," Barroso de Padilla said.
Council's action follows similar moves in other cities like Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Baltimore to restrict cooperation and enforcement by ICE. Columbus has laws prohibiting the use of city funds, equipment or personnel for the sole purpose of detecting or apprehending any person based on the person's suspected immigration status, except in response to a court order.
But, the Ohio Legislature is considering several laws that could force local law enforcement to comply with ICE and assist the agency.
The bills introduced by Republicans would threaten budget cuts to state and local governments if they don't cooperate with federal authorities on immigration law enforcement. Another bill would force hospitals and schools to report on the citizenship status of patients and students, while a third bill would make a person's immigration status a factor considered when they appear at a sentencing or arraignment.
Ohio Democrats also introduced a set of bills to limit ICE enforcement. This includes a bill prohibiting law enforcement from obscuring their face with a mask while requiring law enforcement to wear badges or patches with identifying information. Other bills would impose standards of care at detention centers, curb enforcement at hospitals and places of worship and other actions.
When pressed, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin told reporters Thursday that the city will follow the law, since state laws supersede local laws.
City officials will hold a public hearing about the laws on Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. at Columbus City Hall.
