This story was updated to fix an attribution.
Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin is threatening Columbus City Council over the council’s delaying paying the city’s bill for jail services.
It’s the latest development in the fight over Baldwin’s policy at the county jails of working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as reported on by The Dispatch in March. It appears Baldwin is resisting calls from his fellow Democrats to change the policy at his jails, at least in the near term.
Baldwin sent a letter on April 21 to Council President Shannon Hardin, which The Dispatch obtained. In it, Baldwin says the city is late in making its payment for jail services. He threatens that if council does not vote to honor its obligations by May 1, he would stop accepting prisoners presented to either of his jails that are charged solely with violating the Columbus City Code.
Most people sent to jail in Franklin County are charged under state criminal laws.
Baldwin’s letter comes after Councilmember Emmanuel Remy, chair of the council’s Public Safety Committee, delayed a routine vote on the jail contract by referring an ordinance back to committee at the council meeting on April 13.
A spokesperson for Baldwin did not immediately respond to messages on April 23.
Baldwin said in his letter:
“While the County has been patient regarding the late payment of contractual obligations, the decision by City Council to openly refuse to honor its contractual obligations is unacceptable … I would prefer to resolve this issue without resorting to rejecting City prisoners. Ensuring that public welfare and safety are not compromised are always my top priorities.”
Remy was not immediately available for comment. In explaining why he delayed the vote during the meeting on April 13, he said:
“There are still important questions we need answered regarding the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and its policies involving foreign-born residents and notifications to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
In 2025, approximately 84 people were arrested by ICE at the Franklin County jails, according to agency data published by the Deportation Data Project. Through March 10, ICE has picked up about 41 people at the Franklin County jails.
In his letter, Baldwin said the Franklin County Board of Commissioners fully supports his position.
In an emailed statement, Molly Thrasher, a spokesperson for the County Commissioners, said:
“The (Board of Commissioners) agrees with the Sheriff that the city of Columbus has a contractual obligation to pay its bill that is due. The City should also accept the same per diem increase that was extended to all other municipalities in Franklin County. The Sheriff’s intake policy is separate and apart from the city’s agreement to pay per diem for all individuals held under the Sheriff’s custody.”
The Board of Commissioners previously told The Dispatch that the commissioners disagree with Baldwin’s policy around ICE but he is an independently elected official.
Baldwin told The Dispatch in an emailed statement on March 25 that his office intends to review its policy with the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office.
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: Sheriff threatens Columbus in fight over jail’s ICE policy, contract
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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