We are Ohioans who represent a diverse coalition of organizations, institutions, communities, and houses of faith who are witnessing the terror that anti-immigrant Trump policies are wreaking across our communities. We are asking our city, county and local elected officials to act on values we as Ohioans hold dearly.

We affirm that migration is a basic act of being human. People move — whether for freedom, safety, opportunity, or a mix of both — every day. Immigrants are beloved members of Ohio families and communities. Ohio is their home. Our state is made better, stronger, and more vibrant by the countless contributions of immigrants and refugees.

We urge our elected leaders to fearlessly lead during this time of crisis by enacting policies that protect vulnerable and powerful Ohio immigrants, refugees, and their families. We demand that:

– State and local police should not become arms of the Border Patrol or ICE. Their job is enforcing criminal law, not arresting and detaining immigrants under federal civil law.

– Immigration functions should not be outsourced to private companies. No mercenaries charged with rounding up immigrants; no private prisons to incarcerate them.

– State and local agencies should stay focused on their missions, whether that’s public safety, licensing, social services, healthcare, housing, or education. Immigration enforcement is a federal function, not a state and local one. Our cities should not be using local dollars to do the work of the federal government.

– Schools, houses of worship, and other community connection points should be off-limits for immigration enforcement.

– No one should be stopped and questioned about their immigration status while driving, working, taking their kids to school, worshipping, volunteering, or participating in Ohio communities. Those matters should be left to the courts.

– Racial profiling is illegal. Hate crimes and harassment are illegal. Our public officials should loudly denounce racial profiling, hate crimes, and harassment. It doesn’t matter if you are an individual or a government agency — no one should question, insult, or attack someone based on the way they look, dress, speak, or worship

– Local governments should adopt policies that include immigrants, recognizing their inherent human dignity. These include language access policies; programs to fund immigration legal representation; immigration enforcement rapid response networks to address humanitarian needs; establishing safe spaces in our communities; and policies that leave civil immigration enforcement to the federal government alone.

We respectfully ask that you take swift action as ICE is currently ripping families apart and unjustly detaining immigrants. We commit to work alongside any city and county leader to support these measures in our communities. We stand ready to do our part in caring for the needs of immigrant Ohioans.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and work on behalf of all Ohioans.