Justice Department Challenges Ohio Court’s New Rule on Immigration Arrests

The Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit against an Ohio court due to a recent rule that limits federal immigration arrests near courthouses. The department claims that the local rule unlawfully hinders federal enforcement efforts and endangers Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The dispute centers on a rule from Franklin County Municipal Court, which prohibits civil arrests at the courthouse unless officers possess a judicial warrant. The Department of Justice (DOJ) asserts this rule contradicts federal immigration law. Federal law permits ICE agents to make arrests with administrative warrants or, in some cases, without a warrant.

This type of rule obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates evasion of federal law by dangerous criminal aliens, despite Congress’s direction that federal agents detain and remove them, stated Brett A. Shumate, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. Throughout the country, and including in this courthouse specifically, federal agents have routinely and safely conducted arrests. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting that important federal prerogative.

This remains a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates as they become available.