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Immigration Policy Platform

By Bekky Baker, Program Director

Cincinnati has long been a vibrant, diverse community with immigrants contributing to the city’s growth, culture, and economy. With ongoing threats to immigrant communities and a broken immigration system, we must ensure the dignity and rights of our immigrant neighbors. This platform outlines specific local policy implementations Cincinnati City Council and the Cincinnati Mayor can endorse and then enact to keep our city safe.

1. Promote Transparency in Law Enforcement Interactions

  • Publish Data on Immigration-Related Arrests and Detentions: The city will create regular, publicly accessible reports detailing arrests, detentions, and any interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This includes tracking how long individuals are detained, their legal status, and the outcomes of these encounters.
  • Track ICE Involvement: The city will document every instance of local involvement with ICE, including the number of hours the city’s resources are spent on facilitating ICE activities. This data will be made available to the public for transparency and accountability.

2. Strengthen Legal Protections and Resources for Immigrants

  • Ban 287(g) Agreements: The city of Cincinnati will enact a formal policy banning 287(g) agreements. We will ensure that local law enforcement’s primary responsibility is to the safety and well-being of all Cincinnati residents, regardless of immigration status.
  • Increase Funding for Legal Support for Immigrants: The city will increase funding to support legal defense services for immigrants, particularly for those facing deportation or other immigration-related legal challenges. This will include expanding partnerships with local legal aid organizations and ensuring that legal assistance is accessible for those who need it most.
  • Support Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Holders: The city will allocate funding to support individuals who lose their Temporary Protected Status, offering financial assistance, legal support, and pathways to regularize their immigration status where possible.
  • Neighborhood Support and Safety Protocols: The city will increase funding for the Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) to develop local safety protocols. These protocols will help neighborhoods respond to immigration-related emergencies, offer resources for those affected, and establish partnerships with legal aid organizations.
  • Secure Data Infrastructure: The city will use part of the city’s Enterprise and Technology Services (ETS) budget to improve the security and anonymity of personal data. This initiative will prevent the consolidation of sensitive data that could be misused by ICE or other external actors, ensuring that immigrant residents’ personal information is protected.

3. Enhance Community Education and Awareness

  • Know Your Rights (KYR) Training for Immigrants: The city will work with community partners to establish a city-wide training program to inform immigrants of their legal rights, particularly in encounters with law enforcement or ICE. These trainings will be offered in multiple languages and will be accessible to all immigrant communities.
  • Train City Employees and Contractors: All city employees, contractors, and service providers will undergo training on immigration law and how to assist immigrants in need, including understanding the importance of respecting individuals’ rights in all city-related matters.
  • Language Access in City Services: The city will include translation services, create multi-lingual signage and multilingual resources on city websites to ensure that immigrants, regardless of their primary language, can access city services.

4. Collaborate with Regional Partners for Immigrant Protection

  • Establish MOU with ICE: Similar to the City of Chicago’s Protecting Chicago Executive Order, Cincinnati will create and establish an MOU with ICE. This MOU will include restrictions in utilizing local law enforcement, requirements to identify themselves, requirements around masking, prohibit ICE from entering sensitive areas like churches, hospitals, and schools and prohibiting the use of city property for ICE operations.
  • Regional Advocacy for Immigrant Rights: The will collaborate with other cities and municipalities in the region to strengthen the protection of immigrants and advocate for more comprehensive state and federal policies that support immigrant families.

This platform is a call to action to protect, empower, and uplift Cincinnati’s immigrant communities. By adopting this platform, city leaders are establishing their commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive city where everyone, regardless of immigration status, can thrive. We recognize that immigrants are integral to the fabric of our city, and it is our responsibility to ensure their rights are safeguarded, their voices are heard, and their futures are secure.