Ingram Condemns Senate Passage of Anti-Immigrant Bill

Today, state Senator Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) expressed her deep concern regarding Senate Bill 172 and condemned the targeting and harassment of immigrant communities in Ohio. The bill removes protections from civil arrest for individuals “suspected of being” unlawfully present in the United States, even in traditionally protected locations such as schools, churches, and courthouses.

“This bill is fear-mongering, plain and simple,” Ingram said. “We are stripping away basic civil liberties from people based only on suspicion, and we are doing it just days after a young man from my district—who grew up here—was secretly detained and deported.”

The legislation comes just as Emerson Colindres, a 19-year-old recent high school graduate from Cincinnati, was deported after being detained during a routine immigration check-in. Colindres had lived in the United States since the age of eight. He was held without communication to his family or legal counsel for more than a week before being deported to Honduras earlier today. His case sparked protests and outrage across the Cincinnati region.

Senator Ingram warned that S.B. 172 would codify similar treatment statewide, removing discretion from local officials and institutions seeking to protect residents or preserve trust within their communities. S.B. 172:    

• significantly expands state authority over immigration enforcement by prohibiting any local ordinance, rule, or official action that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities;
• allows action to be taken against individuals not only for unlawful presence but also based solely on suspicion, without evidence or legal findings;
• applies even in traditionally protected areas such as places of worship, courthouses, schools, and community centers;
• forbids public officials from protecting or shielding undocumented individuals, even in emergencies or humanitarian cases; and
• protects individuals from penalty if they act “in good faith” under the bill, even if their actions conflict with local laws or community policies.

Senate Bill 172 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for consideration.

Knowing your rights as an immigrant is essential in keeping our immigrant families safe. See resources here.