1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the four-bill immigration enforcement package currently under consideration in the Ohio House, including House Bills 26, 200, 281, and 554. These measures would undermine public safety, harm healthcare access, and impose unfunded mandates on local communities. House Bill 26 would strip local law enforcement of the discretion to prioritize public safety resources according to community needs. Mandatory compliance with all ICE detainer requests diverts officers from investigating violent crimes and responding to emergencies. Research consistently shows that when immigrant communities fear local police will act as immigration agents, they stop reporting crimes and cooperating with investigations. This makes everyone less safe. House Bill 281 presents an alarming threat to public health. By requiring hospitals and mental health centers to grant federal immigration agents access for enforcement operations, this bill would discourage undocumented residents from seeking emergency care. The Ohio Hospital Association has warned this creates serious public health risks. When people avoid emergency rooms due to fear of arrest, communicable diseases go untreated and medical emergencies become fatalities. Healthcare facilities must remain safe spaces where anyone can seek lifesaving treatment without fear. House Bill 200 would criminalize immigration status as a fifth-degree felony under state law, a dramatic expansion of state authority into what has traditionally been federal jurisdiction. This creates legal confusion and exposes Ohio to costly litigation while doing nothing to address legitimate public safety concerns. The financial impact on municipalities cannot be ignored. House Bill 26 threatens state funding reductions for noncompliant communities, yet provides no resources to cover the costs of detaining individuals for ICE or defending against inevitable legal challenges. I urge you to reject this package and instead focus on evidence-based policies that strengthen community trust in law enforcement and protect access to emergency healthcare. These bills solve no real problems while creating significant new ones.