The Department of Homeland Security listed Lorain County as one of a number of territories ‘shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws.’
CLEVELAND — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week published a list of states, cities, and counties across the country it has deemed to be “sanctuary jurisdictions,” part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Five Ohio territories were singled out, including Lorain County.
In a press release, DHS accused the listed areas of “deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws” by “protect(ing) dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put(ting) law enforcement in peril.” The list comes via an executive order from President Donald Trump, who last month declared that any sanctuary jurisdictions would face potential “suspension or termination” of federal funding “as appropriate.”
“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement. “We are exposing these sanctuary politicians who harbor criminal illegal aliens and defy federal law. President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first. Sanctuary politicians are on notice: comply with federal law.”
The administration did not specify how exactly Lorain County or other territories had violated federal law. Back in January, Lorain County Sheriff Jack Hall told 3News his office was preparing to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in arresting undocumented immigrants, but that they hadn’t been asked to do so. Even if they had been, Hall claimed his deputies did not yet have the appropriate authority, training, or resources.
“We have to follow the law, first and foremost, and we have to follow the United States Constitution,” Hall, a Republican who narrowly won the sheriff’s election in November, said at the time. “We will be cooperating with our law enforcement partners, but we’re going to do it within the confines of the current law.”
Along with Lorain County, Franklin and Warren counties were also included on the list, along with the cities of Columbus and Cincinnati. DHS says all jurisdictions will be sent “formal notification” of their statuses with demands to “immediately review and revise their policies,” but a timeline for possible next steps is not known.
