Columbus city leaders and Columbus Division of Police leadership emphasized on Dec. 18 that police are not working with federal immigration authorities as operations appear to be increasing in the city.
Mayor Andrew Ginther, Columbus police Chief Elaine Bryant, City Attorney Zach Klein, and other city and police leaders said no city resources are being used to help federal agents in immigration enforcement operations.
“While some (agents) say they’re here to keep us safe, the fact is we’re already safe,” Ginther said as he rattled off several statistics highlighting a decrease in homicides, shootings, felonious assaults and burglaries.
“These statistics are important because it shows our city is the safest it’s been in years,” Ginther said. He also said immigration enforcement could “undermine the hard-earned trust” the city and police have been working to rebuild.
Ginther urged the immigrant community to carry federal identification on them if possible and to have a list of emergency phone numbers on their person. Memorizing phone numbers of loved ones or a contact if you are without a cell phone is also crucial, he said.
Ginther pleaded with concerned citizens who are sharing reports, photos and videos of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to make sure they are sharing accurate information. Unverified photos and videos can lead to increased anxiety and confusion, he said. “Our city will not be a vehicle for fear,” Ginther said.
Ginther and Bryant reiterated that no Columbus resources, including Columbus police, will assist ICE in immigration enforcement. Police are trying to monitor local operations and activity. The policy dates back to 2017 when Ginther issued an executive order to that effect under President Donald Trump’s first term. Columbus City Council later codified the order.
ICE has an office in Columbus and regularly makes arrests. Under the Trump administration, there have been large-scale immigration enforcement operations in other cities and promises of increased enforcement nationwide.
In response to inquiries by The Dispatch about operations here, an unidentified ICE spokesperson from the Detroit office issued a statement saying that “officers continue to arrest criminal illegal aliens and immigration violators in the city of Columbus, across Ohio, and throughout the United States. These enforcement actions are part of ongoing efforts to uphold public safety and enforce federal immigration laws.”
The statement cited two people arrested Dec. 17 in Columbus that ICE referred to as the “worst of the worst.” A man from Somalia had a felony conviction for drug possession. The other person cited, a man from El Salvador, had felony convictions for robbery, probation violation and possession of a controlled substance.
A previous Dispatch analysis of ICE activity in Columbus showed that the majority of people arrested by the agency around central Ohio have not been convicted of a crime.
“We cannot prevent ICE from being here,” Bryant said. “But if there is illegal or dangerous conduct, CPD officers will be present to maintain public safety. Every Columbus resident should continue to feel safe to call CPD and 911.”
The city did not receive a heads-up about enforcement operations being increased and has not gotten any communication from federal agencies about where they are operating or why, Bryant said.
Police will not investigate someone only because of their immigration status, Bryant said. Columbus officers will only investigate if there is criminal activity or a valid criminal warrant signed by a judge.
Columbus offers advice on ICE operations
After social media posts, particularly on Reddit, surfaced on Dec. 17 expressing fear and concern over law enforcement operations the posters believed to be immigration related, Ginther and Bryant released a video statement. The city has also launched a website, www.columbus.gov/allofus, where the latest information and resources can be found.
Among the advice offered by the city and leaders:
Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla said refugee businesses and resettlement organizations are passing out red cards, documents that inform people of their rights and what they should do if they’re approached by federal authorities.
“This is deliberate. They knew you would be out buying your holiday meals, buying your holiday presents. If you don’t feel safe, you shouldn’t leave your home. It pains me to say that,” she said.
She also urged residents to look out for their neighbors and support them by ensuring they have access to groceries and other items they may need but are unable to get to because of concern or fear.
City attorney warns against citizens interfering in ICE operations
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein warned concerned residents to not interfere or obstruct any immigration arrests or operations.
The Dispatch asked both Klein and Bryant how people can identify whether a person claiming to be an ICE agent is actually an agent or an imposter. Both Klein and Bryant said that anyone approached by someone claiming to be ICE is allowed to ask for a badge or other form of identification, but Klein expressed frustration that some agents seem to be carrying out operations in plain clothes without a badge or any markers identifying them as federal law enforcement.
Klein said he wished that the agents had the same standard as Columbus police officers in that they have visible markers such as a uniform and a badge number.
In Ohio, it is legal to film ICE and other law enforcement officers so long as the person filming is not obstructing the officers’ duties. There are also no limitations on how far you have to be away when recording, so long as you are not interfering and you obey orders from the officer if they give any in the course of their duties.
There are also no limitations on how far you have to be away when recording, so long as you are not interfering and you obey orders from the officer if they give any in the course of their duties.
Is the sheriff’s office assisting with ICE operations?
Jordan Waidelich, a spokesperson for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, said the agency “has not made any changes” to their immigration enforcement policies.
“We do not enforce immigration violations, and we are not involved in any ICE activities in Columbus, nor have we been asked to assist,” Waidelich said in an email to The Dispatch.
“We will continue to respond to calls to enforce criminal law and maintain safety for those living in Franklin County.”
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mayor says ICE operations in Columbus won’t turn city into ‘vehicle of fear’
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Shahid Meighan, Bethany Bruner and Anna Lynn Winfrey, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
