Mayor says Cincinnati Police will not assist ICE agents

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - President Donald Trump’s administration has been carrying out arrests of illegal immigrants since taking office last Monday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are apprehending nearly 1,200 illegal immigrants a day, according to government documents.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval confirmed to FOX19 NOW that Cincinnati police will not cooperate with ICE agents in the removal of illegal immigrants.

Since early 2017, the beginning of Trump’s first presidency, Cincinnati has been designated a sanctuary city. This means the city will not enforce federal immigration laws against those here illegally.

The mayor shared that he has been working with Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey. He explained that “there is no role for municipalities in federal immigration enforcement,” adding, “We’re going to follow the law.”

“There have been no ICE raids in Cincinnati as of now, none, despite the rumors and conspiracy theories, but we are prepared,” Mayor Pureval said. “If there is an ICE raid in our community, there’s nothing we can do to prevent that based on federal law, but there are things we can do to support the community and mitigate the damage from those raids, and we’re working to do that.”

Sheriff McGuffey stated Wednesday that anyone can contact her office without fear of deportation.

As Sheriff of Hamilton County, I created the mission statement of protecting and serving Hamilton County with accountability, transparency, dignity, and respect. Everyone in Hamilton County deserves this type of treatment, whether they are a native of Ohio or not.

Our Immigration Policy indicates that we allow members of the public, including immigrants and refugees, to communicate with our office without fear of interrogation into immigration status or deportation.

I am and will always be a sheriff who enforces law and order, and I am also a sheriff who is an advocate for equal human rights.

That being said, I will also note that I spearheaded a task force to investigate the actions of organized crime relating to undocumented persons who are participating in thefts around the region.

Sheriff McGuffey further elaborated on her above statement Thursday afternoon:

On Jan. 26’s ABC This Week, Former Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and current Border Czar, Tom Homan, was asked if all the arrests so far were illegal immigrants charged with a violent crime.

“No, let me explain that. There are collateral arrests. Where do collateral arrests happen? Sanctuary cities,” Homan said.

“Our priorities are keeping people safe,” Mayor Pureval explained. “President Trump’s priority seems to be terrorizing vulnerable communities. Lying about what undocumented immigrants he’s going to target in order to have the biggest impact.”

Cincinnati FOP President Ken Kober responded to Mayor Pureval’s statements Thursday morning.

Police officers take an oath to defend the Constitution of both Ohio and the United States. It’s terrible that a mayor can adopt a policy requiring those law enforcement officers to violate that oath.

Cincinnati Police officers aren’t responsible for investigating and enforcing federal criminal violations like illegal immigration. But police officers work on several federal taskforces with multiple federal law enforcement agencies, all with the goal of getting criminals off the streets in Cincinnati. Cincinnati officers also arrest people for violent crimes who turn out to be in the country illegally.

Just two weeks ago, a Cincinnati police officer was punched in the face by a man we discovered was an illegal immigrant. That man was charged with a violent felony. Apparently, Mayor Pureval wants to prohibit the Cincinnati Police from talking with ICE or assisting federal law enforcement when it comes to criminals like that. It’s a disgrace that the mayor is more concerned about his political aspirations than the safety of Cincinnati officers.

If federal law changes to include local police in illegal immigration roundups, Mayor Pureval said he would comply.

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