The Youngstown and Akron-Canton airports are now part of a shadowy network that moves people from jail to jail and, eventually to other countries, in six point shackles, all because of the Trump administration’s incomprehensible immigration policy and Congress’ failure to enact reform. 

Ohioans are tired of our tax dollars being used to support a system we don’t agree with and the separation of families. They have been speaking out against ICE-local jail detention contracts and, on Saturday August 1, will gather at the Akron Canton Regional Airport to demand an end to ICE deportation flights from this airport.

In May 2026, hundreds of Ohioans showed up for the Week of Action to End ICE Jail in Ohio, participating in interfaith vigils outside all six immigration jails in the state. Faith leaders, community members, and advocates stood together in Tiffin, Youngstown, Chardon, Hamilton, and Stryker to deliver a unified message: end immigration jail in Ohio, now and forever.

The work continues, with advocacy this week at the Butler County Commissioners’ meeting and CCNO Board meeting. Read more in this post.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance released “They Walk Among Us: A List of 59 Sexually and Physically Abusive ICE and Border Agents,” an analysis of sexual and violent crimes committed by ICE and Border Patrol agents who primarily preyed upon women and children.

The report documents 59 cases of violent and/or sexual criminal acts by DHS employees, primarily carried out against women and children. It puts the criminal behavior of these agents in context with the agencies’ cultures, as well as recent policy changes that bode dangerously for public safety. DHS has further loosened agent vetting, hiring, and training standards, eliminated accountability, and expanded the types of dangerous tactics agents are authorized to use in the enforcement of civil immigration laws. 

Law enforcement experts are criticizing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics that killed a record number of civilians on U.S. streets. Police accountability and immigration enforcement experts say deaths will continue until Congress takes ICE's guns and bans them from making community arrests.

Former U.S. Border Patrol Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske spoke to this recently on NPR’s All Things Considered. In addition to numerous federal law enforcement roles, he formerly led police departments in Seattle and Buffalo.

Following is a statement from Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, in response to the latest fatal shooting by ICE, in Biddeford, ME, as well as ICE agents’ murder of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo last week. 

Pull ICE off all streets in all communities, NOW. They enforce CIVIL laws. There is no reason they should be allowed to invade our communities with guns. 

Click to read more.

The Cincinnati Enquirer published a beautiful story (with photos) about Shema Asifiwe, the high school artist behind the new “Ohio Is My Second Country” coloring book from the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

The article captures Shema and some of his high school friends, returning to Roselawn Condon elementary school to spend time with the students there. 

Today, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance released its latest data-driven report that shows the Trump administration is lying about who it is arresting, detaining, and deporting.

“Counting Errors, Missing Denominators, and Misplaced Arrests: An Ohio Case Study of the White House ‘Alien Arrest’ Tracker” compares White House data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data, revealing startling discrepancies that show the White House site cannot be trusted. 

In its final month, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ton of terrifying decisions that will have damaging and even deadly consequences for Ohioans.

Read this grab bag of updates from OIA ahead of the July 4 holiday.

The Supreme Court upheld that all babies born on U.S. soil are citizens, ruling against the Trump administration on June 30, 2026.

This is a statement from Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of Ohio Immigrant Alliance.

Today, the Supreme Court made another truly inexplicable, inhumane, and undemocratic decision, ruling against Haitians and Syrians in their quest to maintain Temporary Protected Status in the United States.

In a press conference that took place immediately after receiving the decision, Viles Dorsainvil of the Haitian Support Center in Springfield talked about how Haitian-Ohioans have been on a long journey seeking the right to remain in this country, and will keep figuring it out. He maintained his characteristic composure, but this is clearly a devastating moment for all.

Now, journalists, book reviewers, librarians, educators, and camp, scout, or other group leaders may request free review copies of Ohio Is My Second Country and From Welcome To Deportation via these media kits.

If you want to know what’s wrong with the U.S. immigration system and how to make it work, don’t ask Congress. All they have done is over-fund the out-of-control agencies. Ask the immigration lawyers, and former immigration judges, agents, and immigrants who have been on the inside — some of whom have been violently discarded after building lives here for decades.

That’s what Demba Ndiath did in his new book, From Welcome To Deportation. Learn more about solutions from immigrants, lawyers, and judges in this blog post.

Salif Sarr is a Mauritanian-Ohioan pop star. Shema Asifiwe is the Cincinnati-based artist (and high school student) behind the Ohio Immigrant Alliance’s new coloring book. Demba Ndiath is about to publish his book about West African migration to Ohio.

They are all part of “Ohio Is My Second Country,” the Ohio Immigrant Alliance’s fourth presentation at the Columbus Arts Festival on June 13. 

Minnesota's Rebel Loon became a symbol of immigrant resistance that spread across the country. Now Columbus artist Luka Weinberger has created Ohio's version, the Rebel Cardinal, and OIA is selling the stickers at the Columbus Arts Festival on June 13th. Plus: the #BraveOfUs Tattoo Design Contest is open for submissions through June 30th.

At the Butler County Commissioners’ meeting on June 3, 2026, Chief Anthony Dwyer delivered a defensive rant about criticisms that taxpayers, lawyers, immigrants, their loved ones, and allies have been making about the Butler County Jail’s treatment of so-called “civil immigration detainees.” Dwyer even addressed three lawsuits pending against the jail, a strange move since his office usually employs the “no comment on litigation” shield.

Following is the truth, with evidence, as well as additional data about the criminal history of people detained for ICE at the Butler County Jail, and a quote from Ohio Immigrant Alliance’s Executive Director, Lynn Tramonte. 

Well now we know. According to a majority of the U.S. Senate, and both of Ohio’s Senators, our tax dollars are just an ATM for ICE.

Read Lynn Tramonte’s statement about the Senate reconciliation bill and Senators Moreno and Husted’s votes.

On May 19, civil rights lawyers briefed the media about the latest lawsuit against the Butler County Jail, following an assault by a corrections officer against Mr. Luis Tenelanda, a father detained there on civil charges for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

At the same time, Butler County residents lined the Commission Chambers during the Commissioners’ weekly meeting, once again expressing their opposition to the jail’s ICE contract.

Toledo Blade profiled Sylvania hometown hero Geoff Pipoly in a new story about his advocacy for Haitian immigrants before the US Supreme Court. A graduate of Northview High School, Pipoly works for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in Chicago.

The case, Miot vs. Trump, is one of two class action lawsuits challenging the administration’s attempts to revoke TPS for Haitians and Syrians. The administration has been steadily losing in court, but no one can predict what the U.S. Supreme Court will decide.

However, it’s crystal clear to everyone that the President’s decision to end TPS for Haitians was driven by abject racism, which is a violation of the 5th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He has made no attempt to even hide it, and built up a damning list of public evidence in his two terms, such as:A graduate of Northview High School, Pipoly works for Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in Chicago. The case, Miot vs. Trump, is one of two class action lawsuits challenging the administration’s attempts to revoke TPS for Haitians and Syrians. The administration has been steadily losing in court, but no one can predict what the U.S. Supreme Court will decide.

Hey, this is Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. I'll be speaking at the Coventry Village Library tomorrow night (Thursday, May 21), as part of their author series with Mac's Backs Books. You might not know this, but I co-authored a book with Suma Setty of the Center for Law and Social Policy, based on interviews my colleague Maryam Sy conducted with 255 people who were deported.

They are mostly Black Muslim men, deported from Ohio to West Africa after living here for decades. I know many of them personally. These are conversations most people have never had, and insights that are not often heard in the media. 

Faith leaders, advocates, and community members will gather for a statewide Week of Action featuring interfaith vigils in solidarity with people held in civil immigration detention (ICE jail) between May 23 and May 30.

These peaceful events will include prayer, reflection, and brief speaking programs.