Columbus police union says officers will help ICE agents when requested
The fight over the enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws is coming to a head in Ohio’s capital city, with a police union pushing back after politicians in Franklin County said local police aren’t aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
On Friday afternoon, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners published a statement claiming it “is dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive community where all individuals feel safe, respected, and valued.”
“There has been some misinformation that the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has been involved in these operations,” commissioners added in their statement. “The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the Office has not made any changes to their policies regarding immigration. They do not enforce immigration violations and are not involved in any ICE activities in Columbus, nor have they been asked to assist.”
However, the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge 9, which represents roughly 4,300 officers in Franklin County, issued a statement, confirming that officers in Franklin County will help federal officers when requested.
“Franklin County police officers and deputies swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio,” FOP Capital City Lodge 9 said in a post to X.
“While local law enforcement does not have independent authority to enforce federal civil laws such as immigration violations, we have an absolute duty to respond when our federal partners request assistance, especially when officers are in danger or when help is needed to safely take a criminal offender into custody,” the lodge added. “Public safety depends on cooperation, and we will always stand with our federal law-enforcement partners when assistance is necessary the same way they stand ready to assist us.”
Franklin County police officers and deputies swear an oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the State of Ohio. While local law enforcement does not have independent authority to enforce federal civil laws such as immigration violations, we have an… pic.twitter.com/VoA3ZelUSb
— FOP Capital City Lodge 9 (@capcityfop) December 19, 2025
The message was met with support on Facebook.
“As you should. Thank you to all officers and agents for keeping our city safe,” one commenter said on Facebook.
“It’s impressive, in a tragic sort of way, to watch the Olympic-level mental gymnastics coming from [the mayor] and his city hall circus,” another commenter added. “Apparently, if you squint hard enough, ‘looking the other way’ on immigration enforcement magically turns into a moral stance, and somehow also sends the message that it’s totally fine to heckle, obstruct, or straight-up harass federal officers while they’re doing their jobs.”
The Columbus City Council joined in the conversation, virtue-signaling that it stands with its “immigrant neighbors” and that federal immigration officers are not welcome in the allegedly inclusive city.
“Columbus leaders spoke with one voice: We stand with our immigrant neighbors,” the Columbus City Council said in a post to X. “ICE is not welcome in Columbus, and the city will not assist in the harassment of our communities. We will protect each other.”
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther reposted the message, adding, “Columbus is strongest when we stand together. We will continue to support our immigrant community every step of the way.”
Separately, The Rooster, an Ohio political commentator, posted a video from liberal state Rep. Munira Yasin Abdullahi, D-Columbus, purportedly showing protestors outside of an Embassy Suites hotel in Columbus, where ICE officers were apparently staying. According to a Mediaite report, police responded to noise complaints but did not arrest anyone.
Columbus, Ohio said no sleep for ICE at the Embassy Suites hotel.
🎥: @muniraforohio pic.twitter.com/irEqJGAp9G
— The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) December 20, 2025
