COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- NBC4 has been digging into tips from viewers about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in central Ohio.
More than a dozen law enforcement sources, both federal and local, did not confirm that ICE is arresting people in central Ohio, with many of the agencies saying they are still waiting for guidance.
Where Kroger’s pledge to get rid of plastic bags by 2025 standsThe special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus District said that across the country, DEA agents have been called to assist with immigration arrests.
The DEA spokesman said agents had been granted Title 8 authority, allowing DEA officers to perform arrests tied to immigration. However, he said that to his knowledge, no one in the Columbus office has been called to help and he is unaware of any raids in the area.
Homeland Security and ICE are in charge of these missions; neither returned a request for comment.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said six inmates in Franklin County jails have been on ICE detainers since Jan. 20. One of those inmates was arrested on ICE-related charges while the other five are being held on local charges.
Viral video captures Lewis Center encounter“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office follows all applicable laws and remains committed to serving and protecting our community,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office said it has not received information from federal enforcement agencies relating to deportation. The sheriff’s office said it has a partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service to hold charged suspects until they are sentence to prison, but at this point, none of those being held are ICE detainees.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office also said it is not holding ICE detainees. The U.S. Marshals Service in Columbus said it has not been made aware of any ICE arrests.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said on Friday that he has not been given any official word about ICE arrests and said he plans to keep Columbus as a welcoming city to all. Ginther cited an executive order he signed in 2017 that protects the rights of immigrants to be here; the order states, “It shall be the policy of the City of Columbus to vigorously oppose any effort to require the use of local taxpayer resources for the enforcement of federal immigration policy.”
Initial rape charges against Marion councilmember dismissed, but more may come“We're going to continue to focus on those things, look for opportunities to partner with the new administration, but also stand up and protect our values,” Ginther said. “We believe that one of the reasons this is one of the fastest growing economies in the Midwest, in the envy for much of the nation, is because we welcome everybody."
Ginther’s office said on Monday that nothing had changed for the city over the weekend.
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