ACLU of Ohio Expresses Extreme Caution and Concern over Upcoming ICE Surge in Springfield
January 28, 2026 10:00 am
COLUMBUS – Governor DeWine announced that Ohio officials are anticipating a 30-day ICE surge in Springfield, Ohio, targeting Haitian residents. This enforcement escalation is set to begin on February 4, the day after temporary protected status ends for nearly 500,000 Haitian migrants nationwide. The ACLU of Ohio firmly denounces ICE actions in our state and expresses extreme concern over this escalated, dangerous operation.
The following statement is from J. Bennett Guess, Executive Director for the ACLU of Ohio:
“This despicable surge in lawless ICE officers descending upon Springfield will ignite swells of fear within the Haitian community, terrorize our Black and Brown neighbors, and cause considerable damage to citizens and non-citizens alike. Following the government’s senseless, brutal killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, it is clear that ICE poses a grave threat to all who call Ohio home. We the people must rein in ICE abuses before anyone else is hurt or killed. The ACLU of Ohio urges state and local elected officials to do everything in their power to protect the 30,000 Haitians living in Central Ohio. We call on the U.S. Congress to reject a DHS budget that allows these lawless agencies to continue putting our communities in danger.”
Attorneys at the ACLU of Ohio are monitoring the situation closely for unconstitutional actions. Amid this reckless activity, all residents must know their rights.
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