ICE arrest in Hamilton County Courthouse ignites a political firestorm

When Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials entered the Hamilton County courthouse and made arrests recently, they ignited a political firestorm.

Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil said in a statement Wednesday ICE "arrested individuals" in "a municipal court," but he had nothing to do with the operation.

He declined an interview request with The Enquirer. Details on who was arrested, and for what charges, wasn't available Thursday afternoon; ICE didn't respond to requests for comment and information.

But for Neil, a conservative Democrat facing a competitive primary and a general election challenge, he can't avoid the immigration issue.

Whether ICE should arrest immigrants in a courthouse has sparked emotional debate across the country.

And it'll play a role in the local sheriff's race.

Neil said in his statement he wasn't aware of the arrests until after the fact and his department doesn't work with ICE in a situation like this.

"While I do not have the authority to prohibit another law enforcement agency from entering a courthouse that is open to the public, my primary concern is that anyone who is a victim or witness to a crime should be able to fully participate in the judicial process to further justice and remove dangerous criminals," Neil said in the statement.

Neil said it happened in municipal court, where Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval oversees security. Pureval released a statement saying ICE doesn't consult with him before coming to the courthouse. He said people shouldn't have to fear deportation at the courthouse when they're conducting business, such as testifying against an abuser or securing a child custody agreement.

Republicans and Democrats point fingers

Republicans wasted no time on Thursday slamming Neil for being soft on illegal immigration and not assisting a law enforcement agency.

"Jim Neil cast his lot with the Democrats and now he's running away from fellow federal law enforcement officials doing their job in a building he secures," said Hamilton County GOP Chairman Alex Triantafilou in a Facebook Post.

The Republican candidate for sheriff, longtime Cincinnati Police Lt. Bruce Hoffbauer, criticized Neil for not having a partnership with ICE.

"It appears ICE was just doing their job and enforcing the law," he said in a statement.

Before he can face Hoffbauer, Neil must survive a primary against former Hamilton County Sheriff's Major Charmaine McGuffey, who's backed by the progressive wing of the party.

McGuffey pledged to only assist ICE when required by law. She acknowledged she couldn't stop ICE from entering a courtroom. But she pledged she'd work to have a relationship with ICE so she'd know about any arrest in the courthouse.

"Any law enforcement officer can enter a courthouse," McGuffey said. "I cannot bar law enforcement in any way shape and form. To put out statements that you have no knowledge of this, that's not leadership."

A chilling effect?

McGuffey shares the concerns of Neil and other immigration advocates that arrests of people in courtrooms have a chilling effect on the judicial system.

It discourages victims of crime from coming forward and testifying, they said.

Some people who work in the local immigration community have noticed ICE has stepped up its practice of arresting foreign nationals after they've been released on bond.

Up until a few months ago, if a citizen of another country was released on bond for an offense, they would likely avoid detainment, said Nancy Sullivan, director of Transformations CDC, a West Side nonprofit focused on helping immigrants and their children.

She noticed a few months ago ICE began picking up some immigrants released on bond.

"I don't think many violent criminals are getting out on bond," Sullivan said in response to ICE statements that courthouse arrests were targeting violent or gang-affiliated offenders.

What are other areas doing?

Other areas of the country are grappling with the same issue. Under President Donald Trump's administration, courthouse arrests and attempted arrests have increased 1,700%, according to The Immigrant Defense Project.

New York's Office of Court Administration issued a directive in 2019 prohibiting warrantless arrests inside a courthouse. The Oregon Supreme Court followed suit with a prohibition on civil immigration arrests inside or near courthouses without a warrant.

On the opposite end of the political spectrum is Sheriff Richard Jones to the north of Cincinnati in Butler County.

He told The Enquirer Thursday that he fully supports ICE's courthouse arrests and touted that his jail is "the perfect place" for those immigrants after they're arrested.

"I've been doing this from the beginning. I consider Hamilton County to be a sanctuary city," Jones said. "They encourage illegals to come there. I encourage them to go there, too."