Columbus, OH – Today, the ACLU of Ohio released three new fact sheets, offering guidance for places of worship, health centers, and other private business establishments in Ohio to protect individuals accessing these important places from overreaching immigration enforcement. On January 20, the Trump administration reversed a policy that had previously protected certain ‘sensitive locations’ from immigration enforcement, so that now immigration laws can be enforced in these formerly protected spaces. The ACLU of Ohio’s new fact sheets provide guidance for how these sensitive locations can remain safe spaces for impacted communities. Earlier this year, the ACLU of Ohio issued a similar legal memo directed at Ohio K-12 schools with guidance to protect the rights of immigrant students.
These new fact sheets provide clarity on applicable federal and state laws, answer frequently asked questions, and provide recommendations for establishments to protect their staff and visitors from immigration enforcement. In addition, these resources display examples of both judicial and administrative warrants. It is important to note that immigration agents cannot enter any private space without a judicial warrant, which is signed and issued by a judge. This is different than an administrative warrant, which is a document signed by an ICE agent.
“We hope these resources empower health centers, places of worship, and other private establishments to pursue our recommendations and mitigate harm from immigration enforcement actions. Ohio health centers should be designated for healing and recovery, and places of worship are meant to be spaces for faith, hope, and spirituality – these sensitive locations should not be symbols of fear, deportation, or surveillance. We cannot allow the Trump administration to terrorize Ohio communities,” added Amy Gilbert, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Ohio.
When it comes to immigration enforcement and interactions with law enforcement, individual constitutional rights still apply in most locations.
Read the new resources.
