COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a letter sent to Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ohio Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-District 3, expressed concerns with recent ICE activity in central Ohio and called for full transparency.
In her letter, Beatty states that at least 214 people in the Columbus area have been detained by ICE since Dec. 17, the majority of whom were Latino or Black, as part of what’s been called Operation Buckeye.
“These racially targeted raids began right before Christmas as a way to strike fear into the immigrant community and have largely targeted individuals without a criminal record,” her letter reads. “Furthermore, I have serious concerns surrounding the process and legal justification for this ICE operation.”
The congresswoman notes declines in attendance at local churches and mosques due to fear. She also cited reports that ICE has been “targeting schools with large Hispanic populations.”
In addition to these concerns, she also states that these operations have caused harm to the local economy as customers are scared to go out and support area businesses.
Beatty said she is demanding “full transparency regarding the legal basis and the status of those detained.” Specifically, she is requesting the following information:
- “The full name, detention facility, and exact location of every individual detained from OH-03 currently in ICE custody;
- The legal justification for their detention, including charges, proceedings, case status;
- Whether the detainee has a criminal record;
- A detailed account of compliance with current law and procedures regarding the conditions in which individuals are being held, including access to medical care, mental health services, food, and legal counsel; and
- A full report on whether any complaints have been filed or internal reviews conducted related to racial profiling or discriminatory targeting during recent enforcement operations.”
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to ICE for comment but has yet to hear back.
View the full version of the letter here:
Cody Thompson
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