Immigration enforcement in Ohio has entered a volatile new phase in early 2026, marked by a sharp rise in federal activity and an equally forceful pushback from several of the state’s largest cities. While local governments are moving to shield residents through new legislation and civil rights protections, federal agencies have intensified operations across the state, and lawmakers in Columbus are advancing bills designed to override municipal authority. The result is a rapidly escalating conflict over who controls immigration enforcement within Ohio’s borders.

In Columbus, the City Council held two packed public hearings on February 17 and 20, 2026, responding to what members described as a “chaotic immigration crackdown.” The proposed legislative package relies heavily on the city’s Home Rule authority to limit federal overreach on municipal property. Under the plan, ICE agents would be barred from using city-owned spaces—such as recreation centers, parking lots, and garages—for enforcement actions unless they present a judicial warrant signed by a judge. The legislation also introduces new misdemeanor penalties for individuals who harass or intimidate people near “sensitive locations” like schools and daycares. Columbus is simultaneously moving to block the construction of private, for‑profit immigration detention centers through zoning and permitting restrictions, while launching a digital repository to document alleged civil rights violations by federal agents. Another provision prohibits city employees from holding second jobs with ICE or Customs and Border Protection, a measure intended to prevent conflicts of interest and reinforce local autonomy.

Federal enforcement data from late 2025 through February 2026 shows that Ohio has become a major target for interior enforcement operations. In December 2025, the Department of Homeland Security conducted “Operation Buckeye,” a one‑week sweep that resulted in more than 280 arrests statewide. Overall ICE arrests nearly quadrupled in 2025, rising from roughly 880 the previous year to more than 1,770. While nearly half of these arrests still originate in local jails, the number of “street arrests”—those conducted at homes, workplaces, or public spaces—has increased eleven‑fold in the past year. In Greater Cincinnati, jail data indicates that approximately 75 percent of immigration detainees had no pending criminal charges or prior convictions, raising concerns among advocates and local officials about the scope and intent of federal operations.

Across the state, cities are responding in dramatically different ways. East Cleveland became the first municipality in Ohio to pass an emergency ordinance formally restricting ICE operations. The measure, titled “Giving the Families Options” (GTFO), codifies limits on federal agents’ ability to conduct raids and aims to protect residents from intimidation. In Cleveland, the City Council voted with near‑unanimous support in early February to oppose state legislation that would mandate local cooperation with ICE, signaling strong political resistance to state-level attempts to override municipal authority. Akron leaders have also spoken out against the proposed state legislation, warning that mandatory cooperation with ICE would strain local police resources and undermine community trust.

Springfield, meanwhile, has become a focal point of national attention due to the looming expiration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians. With TPS set to end on February 3, 2026, approximately 340,000 Haitians nationwide—and thousands in Springfield—faced the threat of immediate enforcement action. Although a federal judge issued a temporary ruling on the same day blocking the termination, the community remains on edge, fearing mass arrests if the ruling is overturned. Local advocates describe a climate of uncertainty and fear, as families weigh whether to remain visible in schools, workplaces, and public life.

Other parts of Ohio have taken the opposite approach, aligning closely with federal enforcement priorities. Clermont County signed a 287(g) agreement in late 2025, allowing local deputies to be trained and authorized as federal immigration officers. Butler County continues to serve as the state’s primary hub for jail‑to‑ICE transfers, consistently maintaining one of the highest volumes of federal detainees in the region. These partnerships deepen the integration between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, even as other cities attempt to disentangle themselves.

At the state level, lawmakers are advancing several bills that would dramatically reshape immigration enforcement in Ohio. House Bill 26 seeks to ban so‑called “sanctuary” policies and require every police department in the state to honor ICE detainer requests, with the threat of funding reductions for non‑compliant jurisdictions. Another proposal, the “America First Act,” would make unauthorized presence in Ohio a fifth‑degree felony, granting state and local police the authority to arrest individuals solely for their immigration status. Together, these measures represent the most aggressive state‑level push for mandatory cooperation with federal immigration authorities in Ohio’s recent history, setting up a direct confrontation between the General Assembly and cities that have moved to protect their residents.