Ohio Education Association union president letter insists on protecting illegals, resisting ICE

The president of the Ohio Education Association recently penned a letter that allegedly urged the OEA’s “local leaders, activists, or staff members” to protect illegal immigrants and resist Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which resulted in conservative commentators and activists criticizing him.

Libs of TikTok posted the letter from Jeff Wesing on X. Wesing allegedly outlined guidance for educators in the event ICE agents are present “in or near Ohio schools.”

Jeff Wesing, the President of the Ohio Education Association (@OhioEA), sent a letter to its members affirming their mission to protect illegal aliens, resist ICE agents, block their entry to schools, and provide resources for avoiding ICE detention.

They need to be immediately… pic.twitter.com/GC4IEbJUz5

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) January 20, 2026

“The Ohio Education Association is committed to ensuring that our schools remain safe, welcoming places for every student and educator,” he wrote. “In light of questions we have received about immigration enforcement activity, we want to share guidance on how educators should respond if ICE is present in or near Ohio schools.”

The letter also advised educators on how to interact with federal immigration officials, saying that “educators should refer immigration enforcement officers to their administrator.”

“Our role is to educate, support students, and follow district policy and the law,” Wesing wrote.

The letter has drawn criticism from conservatives, including those in Ohio.

“They need to be immediately investigated for obstructing federal immigration operations,” Libs of TikTok wrote in her post.
Meheek Cooke, an Ohio-based conservative lawyer, also cited the letter shared by Libs of TikTok, saying, “When leaders model lawbreaking, students learn it.”

“Schools are now being used to teach defiance, not education,” she wrote on X. “This is CRIMINAL OBSTRUCTION. IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.”

🚨 Hey Ohio!

Jeff Wensing President of the OEA is ordering administrators to evade ICE.

When leaders model lawbreaking, students learn it. Schools are now being used to teach defiance, not education.

This is CRIMINAL OBSTRUCTION.

IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION REQUIRED. pic.twitter.com/bJ6k4jqOZ6

— Mehek Cooke🇺🇸 (@MehekCooke) January 21, 2026

Jack Windsor, editor-in-chief of the Ohio Press Network, also questioned the letter’s legality, writing in his post that the letter violates “the spirit of federal law.”

The recent news came after immigration enforcement had become a major point of contention across Ohio.

Last year, federal officials launched Operation Buckeye, an ICE initiative that has resulted in the arrest of more than 200 illegal alien criminals statewide.

Columbus officials, however, opposed ICE by refusing to help the agents, with the city’s mayor, Andrew Ginther, going so far as to say the officers are not properly trained.

At the same time, left-wing activists have protested ICE enforcement across the state, with demonstrations drawing criticism from state and national leaders.

“We do have a constitutional right to criticize our government in this country and to protest peacefully,” Republican 2026 gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told Fox News. “Most Americans agree on that, I stand for it, absolutely, but the operative word here is peacefully, because we are also a nation that is founded on the rule of law.”

Vice President JD Vance also criticized the mainstream media for allegedly biased coverage of the immigration-related events happening all around the country, especially in Minneapolis.

🚨NEW: Ohio Education Association President Jeff Wesing sent a letter to members outlining how to BLOCK ICE ACCESS, RESIST ENFORCEMENT, and help illegal immigrants avoid detention.

IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION REQUIRED‼️ pic.twitter.com/ODm1BJM8sr

— Ohio.news (@RealOhioNews) January 21, 2026