Josh Mandel: 'Over our dead body' will Cincinnati be a sanctuary city

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel and two local Republicans say they oppose City of Cincinnati's declaration that it's a sanctuary city because the designation makes the city less safe, causes problems for police and risks federal funding.

“You’re seeing the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the state coming together here, to say over our dead body will Cincinnati become a sanctuary city," said Mandel before members of press and a crowd of clapping supporters at the Hamilton County Commission offices in Downtown Cincinnati Tuesday afternoon.

Mayor John Cranley, surrounded by several city and religious leaders, announced Monday the city would be a sanctuary city, defying President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. The city joins other major U.S. cities in welcoming people who are in the country without legal permission.

"When a mayor like Mayor Cranley decides to publicly announce that he's violating federal law, and that he's going to make a city less safe against radical Islam and the threats we face, we have a responsibility as Americans, as citizens, to oppose this type of act from a mayor, from a politician," Mandel said.

The term "sanctuary city" is a broad term that describes up to 300 communities that have policies protecting the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants from deportation.

Some refuse to share any information with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Some will share information but refuse to hold undocumented immigrants for the sole purpose of giving ICE agents time to pick them up.

In a statement, Cranley rejected Mandel's claim he was violating federal law.

"We have not and will not violate federal law," he said. "Politicians who say otherwise are grandstanding and fear mongering."

Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that directed the Department of Homeland Security to identify and label "sanctuary cities" in the U.S. It ordered the department to publish a weekly roundup of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, including any local police departments that had custody of those immigrants but chose to release them.

The order also directed the departments of Justice and Homeland Security to identify federal grants that can be withheld from sanctuary cities that continue their practices. Those federal departments give out millions of dollars in grants each year to help local communities hire police officers, hold undocumented immigrants, improve community policing practices and crack down on violence against women.

Mandel, who is a Republican and running for United States Senate, was joined by Cincinnati City Councilman Charlie Winburn and Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel.

Winburn said he would be voting against the designation in Council on Wednesday. He said a refusal to crack down on those in the country illegally unfairly burdens police, endangers the city budget and possible federal funding for crucial infrastructure concerns, such as replacements for the Brent Spence Bridge and the Western Hills Viaduct.

"That needs to be supported. Do we want to put that on hold for a cheap political stand? Why would we risk that, anyway?" He said. "We cannot be true leaders if we ask those around us to show disrespect for the law."

Monzel spoke about his grandparents' experience immigrating to the U.S. legally by arriving at Ellis Island, and the hurdles they faced to live here.

"I think most Americans would tell you they want every community to be a sanctuary, but for law-abiding citizens," he said. "And that's what we're here for today."

Earlier Tuesday, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil issued a careful statement in which he said he wasn't picking the conservative or liberal side of the issue, but said he is "taking the side of the law."

“As sheriff I took an oath to enforce the laws of the United States of America and the laws of the state of Ohio. We don’t get to decide which laws we enforce and which we don’t," he said. "I have a responsibility to follow and enforce all laws and keep the public safe."

Neil is a registered Democrat, yet he attended a rally for Trump last year, in uniform and seated in a prominent place. The next day he publicly apologizing for the partisan gaffe, calling the move "selfish." He won re-election in November by a margin of 28 percentage points.

USA TODAY reporter Alan Gomez contributed to this story.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil spoke at a Donald Trump rally in March. Neil did attend the rally and was seated in a prominent location, but did not speak from the stage during the event. The Enquirer regrets the error.