Ohio state Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, speaking, flanked by Yola Lamarre, Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, Rep. Anita Somani, D-Dublin, Dorothy Hassan and ACLU Chief Lobbyist Gary Daniels. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal.)
Ohio lawmakers and immigrant advocates say federal policy and state bills have cast a pall over immigrant communities around the state. Raids carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have left many fearful of going to work, sending their kids to school or shopping for groceries. Those with legal status like humanitarian parole or temporary protected status worry their protections could be revoked with little warning.
Since taking office less than a month ago, President Donald Trump has signed several executive orders reestablishing immigration policies from his first term and expanding on them. Among those actions, he has directed the Department of Homeland Security to “terminate all categorical parole programs” that conflict with Trump’s executive orders, including a program designed for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans.
Two weeks ago, Trump administration officials rescinded an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan migrants in the U.S.
Closer to home
In Ohio, state lawmakers have filed several measures aimed at tracking immigrant communities, requiring police to assist federal immigration enforcement, and punishing municipalities that refuse to work with ICE.
State Rep. Ismail Mohamed, D-Columbus, at a Statehouse press conference on Tuesday criticized House Bill 26, in particular, which would mandate local agencies cooperate with federal agencies.
“This bill seeks to punish local governments that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement by withholding state funding,” he explained. “Targeting sanctuary cities that choose to prioritize public safety or immigration enforcement.”
Mohamed argued they’re not advocating for people who have committed violent crimes.
“Those people should absolutely be deported,” he said, but added that there are millions of other people who are paying taxes and contributing their communities. He argued measures like HB 26 will “sow fear and mistrust” between law enforcement and those immigrant communities.
“Instead of tearing our communities apart, we must focus on fostering community,” he said.
State Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, argued that Trump’s fear-mongering on the campaign trail about Haitian migrants in Springfield and his executive actions once elected are “a direct attack on the dignity and humanity of millions of people who contribute to our economy, our society and our communities.”
“These attacks do not reflect the real concerns of Americans,” she added, “they only serve to distract us.”
State Rep. Anita Somani, D-Dublin, is a physician and she highlighted how increased ICE activity, including in places like hospitals, could put doctors and their patients in complicated situations.
Speaking directly to health care workers she explained that, in many cases, disclosing information about a patient’s immigration status would violate health privacy protections.
“ICE does not have the right to access private patient information without a warrant signed by a judge,” she said. “That is different than an administrative order signed by an ICE agent.”
Community responses
Meanwhile, advocates working directly with immigrant communities are working to ensure people know their rights in an ICE encounter.
Our Helpers CEO Dorothy Hassan has helped stand up an organization called the Central Ohio Rapid Response Network, to act as a clearing house for groups assisting immigrants and refugees.
She explained that even if Ohio’s legislation is still just a proposal, it’s contributing to an atmosphere of fear. Hassan argued that families are being profiled by “neighbors who are being emboldened and have this new dark space to target the families that sound different and look different.”
Hassan said she hears about school attendance dropping the next day after stories about immigration arrests.
“So even without any of this being official or again voted on, yes, our families are living lives of fear right now,” she said.
Yola Lamarre is an advocate with the Haitian Community Network, and her clients are worried that their legal status is now tenuous.
“We did hear that comment being made that they will be a target population for them to have their (Temporary Protected Status) revoked,” she said.
Lamarre said it’s ironic that sweeping rhetoric about deporting illegal immigrants, particularly those who have committed crimes, is resulting in actions instead targeting people who are here legally.
“It is clear,” Lamarre said, “we have inflamed the issue of immigration by politicizing it when there’s a contemplation of terminating legal protections.”
“We must recognize how the power of discrimination is creating dangerous loopholes that are separating families that have contributed relentlessly to our state,” she said. “No one with legal status should be afraid of arrest.”
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