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Ohio immigration bill returns

State Sen. Cates says law could help county officials curtail ‘flood of illegal aliens.’

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 11:48 PM Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A local state senator is taking another stab at a controversial change to Ohio law that would give county sheriffs more leeway to enforce immigration laws.

As immigration reform has languished on the national stage, Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., said southwest Ohio has seen “a flood of illegal aliens” that “has put an undue burden on local law enforcement and impacted the stability of local services.”

The bill introduced by Cates would allow county sheriffs, upon request from federal officials, to investigate and apprehend illegal immigrants for breaking immigration laws.

Current law only allows deputies to arrest immigrants who commit some other crime. Because deportation matters fall under civil law, they are enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill also would allow county commissioners to direct local sheriffs to hold people being detained for deportation or charged with civil violations of immigration law.

“(This bill) would give sheriffs and county commissioners — the men and women who have seen firsthand the effect illegal immigration has had on public safety and social services — much-needed flexibility to help federal authorities pursue and apprehend illegal aliens,” Cates said.

Cates’ testimony, backed by Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, came in committee Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The bill mirrors legislation Cates put forth last year, which passed unanimously in the Senate but stalled in the Ohio House.

Last year’s bill drew sharp opposition from minority rights groups, which argued this could distract deputies from other duties and breed mistrust in immigrant communities.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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