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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) led a sweeping enforcement action across central Ohio in mid-December.
This resulted in the ICE detention Ohio operation arresting more than 280 people, according to federal authorities.
Operation Buckeye ran from Dec. 16 through Dec. 21. It targeted individuals living in the country without legal status, including people with serious criminal convictions, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in an official release.
According to a report by Cleveland 19, DHS described those arrested as including people convicted of aggravated assault against police officers, drug trafficking, firearm offenses, and other violent crimes. They characterized them as among the “worst of the worst.”
This ICE detention Ohio initiative took place across Columbus and other parts of the state, reflecting a push by federal immigration enforcement to remove noncitizens whom authorities allege pose threats to public safety.
Reports of overcrowding and detainee complaints at local jail
Following the arrests, many of those taken into custody were held in county jails throughout Ohio. At the Butler County Jail, multiple detainees have since reported overcrowded conditions, limited food access, and restricted legal information. Attorneys and local lawmakers have raised concerns about treatment.
State Representatives Christine Cockley and Mark Sigrist, alongside State Senator Bill DeMora, formally urged the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections to address the reported conditions. They seek to ensure humane treatment for detainees.
Critics say civil immigration detainees are being treated as if they were criminal inmates, a point underscored by civil rights advocates and legal professionals.
Reaction from government and community groups
The Department of Homeland Security framed the operation as a significant success. They emphasized that the sweep targeted individuals whose criminal records include violent assault, robbery, and drug charges, based on DHS and ICE data.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised law enforcement for conducting the operation during the holiday season, saying it helped “keep Ohio neighborhoods safer.”
However, civil rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations argue that the criteria for detention have been applied too broadly. This captured people with work authorization or pending immigration cases, as well as those who pose no clear public safety threat. These groups also criticized the lack of transparency by federal officials about how cases are selected and processed.
Protests against ICE and immigration enforcement have also been reported in Ohio and nationwide. Demonstrators express opposition to what they view as aggressive immigration tactics and demand more oversight of detention conditions.
In summary
Individuals detained during the ICE detention Ohio sweep will face immigration proceedings. Judges will determine their eligibility for release, asylum, or deportation.
Advocates fear that harsh conditions and overcrowding may pressure detainees into abandoning legal claims or waiving rights. They see it as a strategy criticized by immigration lawyers, in exchange for faster deportation.
Immigration law experts remind families that detained noncitizens have rights to legal representation, though public defenders are not guaranteed in federal immigration cases. Many detainees rely on pro bono legal services or private attorneys to navigate complex proceedings.
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