Ohio Governor Insists ICE Must Follow State Police Safety Protocols
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine emphasized that federal immigration agents must adhere to standard police safety procedures if they conduct operations in the state. Speaking to the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer on Wednesday, DeWine addressed potential friction between local authorities and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Our people follow those rules,” DeWine stated, referring to the training standards of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. “We expect ICE to follow them as well.”
The governor’s comments come as Springfield, Ohio, prepares for a possible increase in federal enforcement activity. Thousands of Haitian immigrants in the region face the expiration of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in early February. DeWine expressed concern that aggressive tactics could lead to dangerous escalations, citing a recent fatal incident in Minneapolis where a federal agent shot a protester. DeWine specifically noted that Ohio troopers are trained not to stand in front of moving vehicles to avoid creating deadly confrontations, a practice he expects federal agents to respect.
While DeWine acknowledged he cannot control federal operations, he stressed that the Ohio State Highway Patrol has coordinated with local law enforcement to maintain order. He affirmed the public’s right to protest but warned against physical interference with lawful ICE activities. Conversely, federal officials maintain that ICE carries out its duties according to federal mandates and have declined to discuss specific operational plans for the region.
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