On February 17, 2026, the Columbus City Council held a special hearing to examine concerns about overreach by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to consider a package of legislation aimed at protecting the safety, constitutional rights, and dignity of all Columbus residents. The hearing included presentations from the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, Columbus Division of Police, the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and the city's Legislative Research Office, followed by extensive public testimony. Councilmembers heard from over 20 community witnesses, including representatives of resettlement agencies, legal aid organizations, faith groups, and directly impacted residents.
We are going to go ahead and call this uh hearing to order. Tonight we are here to examine serious concerns regarding the overreach of U.S. immigration and customs enforcement, commonly known as ICE, and to consider legislation that protects the safety, constitutional rights, and dignity of every person who calls Columbus home. I want to begin by thanking all of my colleagues for being here tonight, our community partners, advocates, and residents. I wish that folks online could see that we have an open house today. I feel like it's a little bit of a family reunion because all of you have been partners in this work for so long. I want to thank all of our residents who, whether you took the time to send in written testimony or you're here with us this evening to participate in this important hearing tonight. Your presence here reflects the seriousness of this moment. I believe deeply that local government has a responsibility to ensure that every person in our community feels safe, respected, and protected under the law. Local resources exist to serve local residents, not to advance unchecked federal enforcement actions. We cannot ignore federal law or federal policy, but we can decide how our city interacts with it. We can determine how our resources are used to address local priorities, such as public health, housing stability, and public safety. And we know that safety does not come from fear. It does not come from confusion about who has authority. And it certainly does not come from practices that erode trust between residents and the very institutions meant to serve them. In fact, the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution limits the federal government's ability to commandeer local resources. The Constitution applies to everyone, to everyone within our borders. No agency, federal, state, or local, is above the Constitution. Due process is not optional. Civil rights are not conditional. When enforcement practices appear to exceed lawful authority or undermine basic protections, it is our obligation to respond. In our community and communities across the country like ours, we have heard troubling reports of ICE enforcement actions that go beyond reasonable boundaries, actions that create fear in schools, workplaces, houses of worship, and neighborhoods. When residents are afraid to report crimes, seek medical care, or cooperate with local law enforcement because they fear immigration consequences. All of us are less safe regardless of your immigration status. Tonight's conversation will be grounded in facts and respect. We welcome a range of perspectives. Clear boundaries between federal immigration enforcement and our community are not obstruction. They are acts of governance. The legislation before us is rooted in the safety of our people and communities through the protection of public spaces, setting clear standards and protocols, and limiting unauthorized cooperation. I am proud of the resilience and diversity of our community. Immigrants, documented and undocumented, are our neighbors, business owners, students, parents, and essential workers. They contribute to our economy, our culture, and our shared future. Their dignity and their rights are not abstract principles. They are lived realities in our neighborhoods every day. Our responsibility tonight is to listen carefully, legislate thoughtfully, and to act lawfully. And tonight we begin that work together. Thank you all for being here. I want to pass the floor to Council President for opening remarks. Well, thank you, Madam Chair. I um grateful for everyone for being here. This is when ICE uh enforcement increased in Columbus. Uh, I said many will say that uh this is who we are, that we are a town that would be okay with it. And I said no, the response to this is who Columbus is. And looking out on this uh crowd today, seeing the testimonies that we've already received, it speaks to who we are as a city. So I am very, very grateful from the bottom of our hearts for the work that you do that Councilmember uh talked about. I certainly want to thank uh Councilmember Rosa de Padilla uh and President Pro Tim Dorrans for your leadership uh on this legislative package. Uh it has been thoughtful, it has been open, and it has been heartfelt uh and proud to be uh here as well. I also want to thank our residents and the advocates and educators and faith leaders, business owners, and community partners who have taken the time to show up and engage in this conversation. Know that your presence matters, know that your voice matters. Yes, we are here today to talk about protecting our community from aggressive immigration enforcement practices.