ICE out of Columbus
ICE is not welcome in Columbus; immigrants are. That is the message Columbus residents have been sending since a couple hundred ICE agents descended on the city and began to hunt people on the streets. Residents immediately began mobilizing neighborhood watches and alert systems, keeping agents awake all night at their hotels, and setting up food delivery chains.
Many people are calling the Ohio Immigrant Hotline saying they want to do something. Below is a list of things you can do to make Columbus a safer place for everyone. Because no one should be afraid to go to school, the store, or houses of worship. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. And ICE agents truly are not welcome here.
Things you can do
Donate money to support Our Helpers, which is providing direct, on-the-ground support, including food for families and legal help through the Fund for Immigration Legal Assistance at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus.
Learn about the Ohio Immigrant Hotline and share it on social media, using this toolkit. Donate to support the hotline’s operations at https://bit.ly/DonateOIA.
Use our OhioIsHome.org resource website, and share it with your network. There are resources for immigrants, schools, businesses, service providers, and members of the community.
Purchase “ICE Out of Columbus,” “Ohio Is Home,” and “Migration Is Human” shirts and other merchandise at the OIA online store — including our NEW Columbus swag with a design by @lowbarluka.
If you are in Central Ohio, sign up to become a member of the Community Response Hub of Central Ohio. The Hub supports efforts to defend communities at risk of deportation and detention in Central Ohio through advocacy and mobilizing ally organizations and community members.
Learn best practices (SALUTE method) and guidelines for filming federal agents (see more info below).
Share “Know Your Rights” and safety planning graphics from Rep. Munira Abdullahi and others in this folder. You can download #ICEOutOfCbus graphics there, too.
Share Comunidad Sol’s “Know Your Rights” videos in various indigenous languages.
If you witness an immigration arrest
How to record ICE, Border Patrol, and police
Use the SALUTE method:
Size/Strength -- How many agents are present?
Actions/Activities --What did you see them doing?
Location and Direction -- Where are they and where are they headed
Uniform/Clothes -- What are they wearing? (Describe as much as possible. Uniform? Plain clothes? Identifying logos, etc.)
Time -- What time did the event occur
Equipment and Weapons -- What are you able to see?
How to report ICE, Border Patrol, and police abuse
If someone’s life is in danger, call 911
Contact these non-emergency sources to report abuse
Send photos/videos and other details to hotline@ohioimmigrant.org
Call or text 419-777-4357 (HELP)
National Lawyers Guild-Ohio message line at 614-654-6477, CbusNLG@proton.me, or https://ohionlg.com
Talking points and Statements
If you are talking to the media, making public remarks, writing materials, or doing other communications about this, use these talking points
ICE Raids in Columbus: Hallmark of Fascism (Ohio Immigrant Alliance, 12/18)
ICE Is Not Welcome, Immigrants Are (Ohio Immigrant Alliance, 12/20)
In “Uncertain and Heavy Times,” Greater Columbus Shows Up For Immigrants (Faith and Community Leaders, 12/22)
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance is a group of US-born citizens and immigrants advocating for humane immigration laws, because immigrants are valued members of Ohio communities. Support our work and spread the message that Ohio Is Home for All. Learn more at ohioimmigrant.org and check out our community protection website, OhioIsHome.org.
