Columbus City Council is considering a package of legislation designed to limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The proposals, unveiled Tuesday and discussed during a public hearing on Feb. 17, aim to protect workers and families from what council leaders describe as “extreme” enforcement tactics.
Restricting ICE Operations
The core of the proposed legislation would prohibit Columbus police from entering into enforcement agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). It would likewise bar federal agents from using city-owned parking garages or lots for staging operations. Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla stated that the measures are intended to clarify the boundaries of local government’s role.
“Local resources exist to serve local residents – not to advance unchecked federal enforcement actions,” Barroso de Padilla said. “We cannot ignore federal law or federal policy. But we can decide how our city interacts with it.”
The legislative package includes several specific restrictions. ICE would be prohibited from accessing non-public parking garages without a valid judicial warrant, and the city would be required to post signage at certain public sites informing agents of this prohibition. City employees would also be barred from holding secondary employment with ICE or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Zoning and Safety Concerns
Beyond property and employment restrictions, the proposals address zoning and safety. The city would establish a new special apply permit requirement for detention centers. A first-degree misdemeanor charge would be created for “harassing, stalking or obstructing behavior” occurring at schools and daycares.
Council President Shannon G. Hardin emphasized the broader impact of immigration enforcement on the community. “When families are living in fear, when workers are targeted and when children are scared to travel to school, we are not just failing a single group – we are failing ourselves,” Hardin said.
The council is also considering a resolution from the City’s Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. This resolution calls for federal agents to visibly identify themselves with name badges, avoid using face coverings, and meet training standards comparable to those required for Ohio police officers. President Pro Tem Rob Dorans stated that the city can control its local environment, even if it cannot directly control federal agents.
“We do have the ability to address where they can stage operations, where their facilities can be built and how we create tools to aid our City Attorney to prosecute illegal misconduct,” Dorans said.
The public hearing included testimony from the Columbus Division of Police, the Ohio Immigration Alliance, CAIR-Ohio, and Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this legislation?
The legislation aims to limit local cooperation with federal immigration authorities and protect workers and families from what council leaders describe as “extreme” enforcement tactics.
What specific actions would be prohibited?
The proposals would prohibit Columbus police from entering into enforcement agreements with ICE and bar federal agents from using city-owned parking garages or lots to stage operations.
When might the council vote on these proposals?
Council is expected to vote on several of the ordinances as early as Feb. 23.
As the council prepares to vote, it remains to be seen how these measures will ultimately impact the relationship between Columbus and federal immigration authorities.
