I just heard that SB 172 could be voted on the floor tomorrow! Please read background below and ACT NOW!

SB 172 — Requires all officials to allow all immigration-related arrests with or without a warrant, even if the person is only “suspected” of being undocumented

B 172 — Requires all state/local officials to allow all immigration-related arrests with or without a warrant, even if the person is only “suspected” of being an illegal immigrant

STATUS: Passed Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, & Public Safety Committee on Wednesday 6/11/25

Likely vote in the FULL Senate on Wednesday 6/17/25

WHAT IT DOES:

Requires state and local public offices/officials to allow the arrest or detention of anyone who is — or is suspected of being — unlawfully present in the U.S.

Allows such an arrest or detention to happen anywhere in Ohio under any circumstances (notwithstanding current law that extends a privilege from arrest in certain cases)

Applies to arrests or detentions conducted by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency or officer, with or without a warrant, and regardless of whether the proceedings are administrative, civil, or criminal in nature.

Full analysis here

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

1.) Tell Senate President Rob McColley NOT TO LET SB 172 pass the Senate:

(614) 466-8150McColley@PROTECTED

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rob_McColley

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McColley4Ohio/

2.) Tell Senate Majority Floor Leader Therese Gav

3.) Tell your state senator to VOTE NO on SB 172 when it reaches the Senate floor:

Find your state senator by typing your address below this map

Sample call script (credit to Debby Cooper for drafting it!):

Hi. My name is [NAME]. I’m calling to ask [ELECTED OFFICIAL] to oppose SB 172.

This bill would allow an arrest or detention to happen anywhere in Ohio under any circumstances. Federal, state, or local law enforcement officers could arrest people with or without a warrant for nearly any reason if they claim it’s related to immigration.

There are very good reasons to allow the “privilege” exceptions this bill would eliminate, especially in certain public spaces.

For example, the court has a responsibility to ensure due process, which is hard to do when victims, witnesses, and defendants won’t come to the courthouse to testify and participate in cases because they fear arrest. Trial fairness is jeopardized, which hurts citizens as well as non-citizens.

I urge [ELECTED OFFICIAL] to say NO to SB 172.

This bill hurts all of us.

RESOURCES:https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb172