Rep. Williams reminds Ohioans that illegal immigrants who work for them could be deported

State Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., warned Ohio business owners on Tuesday in his X post by reminding them that the Buckeye State’s lawmakers passed a law that would deport illegal immigrants who are working for them.

“We just passed E-Verify in Ohio,” he wrote. “If people are hiring illegal aliens, they’re breaking state and federal law.”

We just passed e-verify in Ohio.

If people are hiring illegal aliens, they're breaking state and federal law.

And the media is trying to portray them as the victims. https://t.co/DmUDueeW1w

— Rep. Josh Williams (@JoshWilliamsOH) December 23, 2025

Williams referred to House Bill 246, which was sent to Gov. Mike DeWine on Dec. 9 and signed by him on Dec. 19.

Williams’ social media post is a response to the recently released video of a Somali business owner in Columbus being upset about her employees who were in the United States illegally being captured by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

“The media is trying to portray them as the victims,” Williams wrote.

In his exclusive interview with Ohio.News, Williams promoted House Bill 26, which intends to defund the sanctuary cities. A second bill, House Bill 200, would make it illegal for anyone who is in the country illegally to enter or remain in Ohio.

“Ohio needs to take action immediately to advance HB200 and HB 26 to Make America First in Ohio, the heart of it all,” state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, told Ohio.News.

The recent post from Williams came after ICE announced its Operation Buckeye to crack down on illegal immigration in Columbus, which resulted in many Ohio officials, especially those in the capital of the state, opposing the agency by actively helping immigrants in various ways.

The best-known of them was Columbus City Mayor Andrew Ginther, who said on Dec. 19 that his city will not participate in immigration enforcement and will not use municipal resources to assist ICE.

“Columbus is proud to be a welcoming city. As federal immigration enforcement operations take place in our community, we want our immigrant neighbors to know you matter,” he wrote on X. “You contribute to our economy, our culture, and the vibrancy of our city. We have your back, today and always.”

Many conservatives, Republicans, supporters of President Donald Trump, and people who support mass deportations criticized Ginther, going as far as saying that he is covering for Somali immigrants in the state and is a traitor to the United States.

“Why are you against ICE enforcing federal immigration laws in your city and making Columbus SAFE for all Ohioans?” ICE responded to the mayor on X.

Ginther responded to their criticism in his Monday statement.

“Mayor Ginther remains committed to keeping Columbus safe for everyone who lives and works here,” Ginther’s office said in the statement. “Columbus will continue to be a city that follows laws and leads with humanity. Those principles are not in conflict; rather, they are the foundation of good governance.”