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…
As of late December 2025, the Columbus ICE operation known as Operation Buckeye has placed Ohio’s capital at the center of a national debate over immigration enforcement, public safety, and the limits of local cooperation with federal law.
Launched on December 16, the operation represents a visible escalation by U.S. Immigration and Customs…


