Columbus, OH – Today, the ACLU of Ohio filed a lawsuit asking the Supreme Court of Ohio to order the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office to comply with Ohio’s public records laws and release documents and communications pertaining to contractual arrangements with Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies to carry out federal immigration functions.
The ACLU of Ohio filed this mandamus action on behalf of its Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Jocelyn Rosnick, who first requested contracts and related memorandums executed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and/or the U.S. Marshalls Service on March 12, 2025. On April 8, the Sheriff’s Office responded that the requested records were “prohibited by federal law” and therefore not public per the Ohio Revised Code. Rosnick was instructed to instead contact ICE for the records.
“The Geauga County Sheriff’s Office has a clear legal duty to provide the requested information. The Sheriff’s Office has not indicated such records are not in their possession, and no exception to the Ohio Public Records Law applies. The federal statutes cited by the Sheriff’s Office do not prohibit disclosure merely because these records are federal records. The public has a right to this information and local law enforcement must be held accountable,” added Amy Gilbert, Senior Staff Attorney for the ACLU of Ohio.
“The ACLU of Ohio is deeply committed to protecting immigrants’ rights and our organization serves as a watchdog for government transparency and accountability. We know that Geauga County Jail has housed ICE detainees for years, some of whom we have previously defended in court. Our lawful demands for timely and accurate information must not be ignored,” added Jocelyn Rosnick, Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer.
Geauga County Sheriff’s Office has failed to fulfill its clear legal duty by refusing to provide requested public records that are not subject to an exception. The ACLU of Ohio urges the Supreme Court of Ohio to issue a writ of mandamus compelling the Geauga County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand to promptly provide the records requested.
