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Ohio immigration bill returns

State Sen. Cates says law could help county officials curtail ‘flood of illegal aliens.’

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By Josh Sweigart, Staff Writer 11:48 PM Tuesday, September 22, 2009

A local state senator is taking another stab at a controversial change to Ohio law that would give county sheriffs more leeway to enforce immigration laws.

As immigration reform has languished on the national stage, Sen. Gary Cates, R-West Chester Twp., said southwest Ohio has seen “a flood of illegal aliens” that “has put an undue burden on local law enforcement and impacted the stability of local services.”

The bill introduced by Cates would allow county sheriffs, upon request from federal officials, to investigate and apprehend illegal immigrants for breaking immigration laws.

Current law only allows deputies to arrest immigrants who commit some other crime. Because deportation matters fall under civil law, they are enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The bill also would allow county commissioners to direct local sheriffs to hold people being detained for deportation or charged with civil violations of immigration law.

“(This bill) would give sheriffs and county commissioners — the men and women who have seen firsthand the effect illegal immigration has had on public safety and social services — much-needed flexibility to help federal authorities pursue and apprehend illegal aliens,” Cates said.

Cates’ testimony, backed by Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones, came in committee Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The bill mirrors legislation Cates put forth last year, which passed unanimously in the Senate but stalled in the Ohio House.

Last year’s bill drew sharp opposition from minority rights groups, which argued this could distract deputies from other duties and breed mistrust in immigrant communities.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or jsweigart@coxohio.com.

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do you people read your comments before posting? I haven't seen this much ignorance in a long time!
first of all, I'm not mexican but I am an immigrant myself.
@tired of ilelgals: good luck with your agenda but don't forget that every time you go to the grocery store or gas station you buy products picked, packed and prepared by those very mexicans you hate so much.
other thing is, please stop stereotyping people! not every mexican is illegal and not every illegal is mexican!

justME
4:47 PM, 9/30/2009

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Read the Papers Lawmakers! Mexicans and Puertoricans as well as asians well anybody who is NOT AMERICAN stop the madness especially the Mexicans!Let Richard Jones do his job he is wonderful!Mexicans are murdering raping and stealing from us among other things.There needs to be an uprising of americans to take our country and our rights back.We suffer for those criminals.American criminals can't get work.They get put in prison for crimes and are put to death too. Get a grip Lawmakers!

Beth
1:48 AM, 9/28/2009

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We can all help. If you know a business that hires illegals...turn them in and do not go to this business go elsewhere.Do not spend your money on any business that hires mexicans. I will not, I spend my money at another business.
When they start losing money they will finally get it. Hire American. Illegals ...you are not wanted here.They rent 1 house & move 20 people in.
If one of them break into your house, shoot them.
I know 2 people who were robbed by illegals, they climbed in a window.

tired of illegals
4:29 PM, 9/24/2009

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Construction, Oil Refineries, Retailers, and many others use the services of "subcontractors" to secure their "cheap labor" at the expense of United States Citizens. As our President commented, as long as the ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS are able to claim ignorance of the law without penalty they will maintain their effort to secure “cheap labor” resulting in the ILLEGALS continuing to scurry across our unsecured national borders.

MackB
9:31 PM, 9/23/2009

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The Mafia always covered their trail with fake enterprises. All of the ILLEGAL EMPLOYERS realize that many "subcontractors" are organized exclusively to hire ILLEGALS while they persist in seeking out these “subcontractors” and they use their supposed "ignorance" of the "suncontractors" hiring practices to "end run" the law.

MackB
9:28 PM, 9/23/2009

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