U.S. Rep. Max Miller criticizes Cleveland news outlet for ‘misleading anti-ICE’ story
U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, has criticized the framing of a Cleveland news source, alleging it published a “misleading anti-ICE” story.
“If you think local media is any less biased than national media, you are mistaken,” he wrote on X, implying that it was published only after a former ICE deputy director announced her run for a House seat to replace Democratic Marcy Kaptur.
If you think local media is any less biased than national media, you are mistaken.
Instead of reporting the incredible news that fentanyl deaths are dropping like a rock, @clevelanddotcom criticizes me in a misleading anti-ICE story. Do you think it is a coincidence that this… pic.twitter.com/OWTiib2EJr
— Max Miller (@MaxMillerOH) January 16, 2026
In the Jan. 16 story Miller said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement “does not conduct patrols, raids, or sweeps looking for illegal aliens, but strictly conducts targeted enforcement actions” focused on “those who pose the greatest threat to public safety.”
The publication, citing several reports from other news sources, suggested that this is not true and claimed that ICE detained multiple people with no criminal history. The pushback prompted Miller’s X rebuttal.
“Instead of reporting the incredible news that fentanyl deaths are dropping like a rock, [Cleveland.com] criticizes me in a misleading anti-ICE story,” Miller wrote, attaching a graph with the dropping monthly fentanyl-related deaths in the U.S., clearly implying that this happened as a result of President Donald Trump closing the borders and going after criminals from Latin America already located in the country who are distributing the drug.
While Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicated that the drug overdose-related deaths began dropping in 2024, under former President Joe Biden, the rate appears to have increased under President Donald Trump. The numbers show that drug-related deaths in 2025 dropped from 79,159 reported deaths in January, the last month Biden was in office, to 69,172 reported deaths in August.
Data for months after August is not yet available.
The CDC data further reveals that the number of drug-related deaths in Ohio is expected to drop from 3,644 drug-related deaths in August 2024 to 2,541 drug-related deaths in August 2025, a nearly 30.3% drop..
Miller also suggested that the news outlet published the report only after former ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan announced her congressional run as a Republican to replace Democratic Sen. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio.
“Do you think it is a coincidence that this comes the day after ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan announces her congressional run for OH-09? Doubtful,” he wrote. “News outlets should inform, not inflame.”
Cleveland.com previously reported on Sheahan’s announcement of her run for Senate.
The Republican primary is expected to be a tight one, with state Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., also vying for the seat.
While Sheahan is running to replace Kaptur, multiple lawmakers, including state Reps. Meredith Craig, R-Smithville, Marilyn John, R-Richland County, Jodi Salvo, R-Bolivar, Monica Robb Blasdel, R-Waterford, Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, Justin Pizzulli, R-Scioto County, Angie King, R-Celina, Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville, and Jamie Callender, R-Concord, highlighted a new OneOhio grant funding to combat drug addiction and “strengthen recovery programs.”
“Hope gives people the strength to overcome addition, and local programs provide the guidance and support needed to turn that hope into real recovery,” King said in a release. “This grant program is critical because it empowers local organizations with the resources they need to expand services, reach more Ohioans, and make a lasting difference in our communities.”
