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Dems propose bill to make Ohio ‘sanctuary state’
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Democratic state lawmakers have proposed making Ohio a “sanctuary state,” providing protections to undocumented immigrants.
Reps. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, and Stephanie Howse, D-Cleveland, said the state should be welcoming of immigrants.
“We want you here, we need you here because you are helping us to grow as a community and as one Ohio,” Howse said.
The legislation, announced Tuesday during a morning news conference at the Statehouse, came in response to law changes proposed a day earlier by Republican state Treasurer Josh Mandel and Rep. Candice Keller, R-Middletown, that would prohibit Ohio communities from adopting sanctuary status, with potential criminal and civil penalties for mayors, city councils and other elected officials in cities that move forward with the designation if illegal immigrants commit crimes.
The phrase “sanctuary cities” generally refers to communities that institute policies to protect immigrants in the country illegally from being deported. In Ohio, Cincinnati recently moved to adopt the designation.
The issue has been in the national spotlight as of late, with President Donald Trump recently signing an executive order calling for the identification of all such sanctuary communities nationwide, along with the regular publication of a list of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.
Proponents of barring sanctuary cities have voiced concern that terrorists or other immigrants bent on criminal activities could use the status to avoid the legal consequences of their actions, including deportation.
But Ramos called the bill offered by Mandel and Keller “completely untenable.”
Howse said the legislation she and Ramos are proposing would forbid criminal and civil penalties against officials in communities that adopt sanctuary status.