A Cleveland detective, Donald Kopchak, was just found guilty on two counts of felony abduction, one count of ethnic intimidation, and one misdemeanor assault charge for the 2023 Hinckley hate crime he instigated. He will be sentenced in June.

His co-conspirator, Daniel Lajack, pled guilty and will be sentenced this week. Neither should be working for law enforcement.

A new ACLU of Ohio report, “ICE in Ohio,” outlines the different types of formal agreements that ICE enters into with state and local governments, under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Also, wrote the ACLU of Ohio, “On any given day, ICE has access to 1,272 jail beds across Ohio. If every bed available to ICE was full every day of the year, the total cost to the federal taxpayer would be $54,343,113.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer profiles heroes who are helping their communities stay safe during a time of heightened immigration enforcement in “Beyond the protests, ICE resisters work to protect local immigrants." The Ohio Immigrant Alliance is included.

Anticipating major changes in immigration policy during the second Trump administration, Ohio Immigrant Alliance started the Ohio Immigrant Hotline in January 2025. We knew this resource was needed due to our experiences during the first Trump presidency, when helping each other deal with stressful immigration situations was vital. The Hotline is part of our “Build The Nest” strategy and the OhioIsHome.org resource website. 

On March 25, OIA released a report about the Hotline’s first year of existence, using Hotline operations data, called “Connecting Ohio: The Ohio Immigrant Hotline’s First Year in Action.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will being assisting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents with “managing passenger lines, monitoring exits and checking identification,” according to the federal government, as reported by the Akron Beacon Journal (behind paywall).

Yet Cleveland Hopkins communications manager Michele Dynia said: “These personnel are supporting TSA operations in a non-screening role, including assisting with passenger flow and divesting. They are not conducting identification checks or screening passengers.”

Which is it?

The Columbus Dispatch exposed the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s booking policy and how jail officials work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite the City of Columbus declaring itself welcoming to immigrants, the County Sheriff is going above and beyond what is required in federal law, and feeding people to ICE who may be U.S. citizens or otherwise not deportable.

With the immigration courts not functioning fairly or well, immigrants and lawyers are taking cases to federal court and the circuit courts of appeals in hopes of finally obtaining justice. Here's what you need to know about the latest court challenges and policy shifts affecting immigrants across the state.

Between 2017 and 2022, immigrants detained by ICE in Ohio jails bravely spoke out about inhumane and abusive treatment, using the Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA) and other groups as their conduits. Through this effort, ICE jail capacity in Ohio fell 90% — from a high of 596 “beds” per day at five jails, to a low of 59 “beds” at two facilities. Deportations across the entire Detroit Field Office area of responsibility fell by 58% — saving thousands of people from deportation.

This case study shows how immigrants and allies ended ICE contracts with the Morrow and Butler County Jails in Ohio during the first Trump administration.

High school student and artist Shema Asifiwe, language expert Manuel Chinchilla, PhD, and the Ohio Immigrant Alliance are preparing to publish the “Ohio Is My Second Country Coloring Book” in late spring 2026. Shema drew the pictures for this book by asking immigrants to tell him about their native places. Contrary to stereotypes we often hear about other countries, these are not constantly bleak or war-torn landscapes. There is vibrancy, beauty, and many happy memories, even in places that are experiencing conflict. His friends from all over the world were eager to participate.

At the 2026 Columbus Arts Festival, Ohio Immigrant Alliance is uniting with Shema Asifiwe and Mauritanian-American pop star Salif Sarr to promote the message behind the coloring book, “Ohio Is My Second Country.”

No matter where we were born — Celina, South Carolina, or Senegal — Ohio is home, now. The book, and concert, will focus on what we have in common and celebrating our differences. OIA’s performance takes place on June 13, from 3-4pm, on the Cultural Arts Center Stage.

In a statement, OIA ED Lynn Tramonte says “the allegations of sexual abuse carried out by Cesar Chavez are horrific. Farm workers and their families have always been treated with indignity in this country, despite the fact that they literally keep us alive, and businesses in operation. Hearing of abuses committed by one of the movement’s leaders is confusing and devastating.

“But the people who matter here are the survivors, and the fact that they are talking about what happened.”

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance is launching the Brave Of Us Tattoo Design Contest, calling on all tattoo artists and apprentices to express what it looks like to be in solidarity with immigrants at this moment in history. The contest’s themes include Family & Love; Freedom & Safety; Bravery & Strength; Unity Across Differences; and Reclaiming Identity & Culture.

The first organization to join our new sponsorship program at the Ohio Immigrant Hotline is Vibrant Ohio. For the entire month of March, VO is supporting our work to respond to the calls, texts, and emails coming into the Hotline from across Ohio. We are grateful for community partners who recognize that systems like these help keep us safe and protect all of our rights.  

Vibrant Ohio is a statewide organization that enhances local immigrant and refugee integration efforts to build a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous Ohio economy. They believe that immigrants, refugees, and the broader international community all make Ohio a more vibrant place to call home. Vibrant Ohio serves as a trusted connector to Ohio immigrants and refugees, including those in our major cities and a growing number of smaller communities.

Everyone should go see “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” at the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio. What a powerful performance from the entire cast of “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” written by Ohio State graduate Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Shanelle Marie, with a stunning local cast. To make us laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters is simply an unforgettable experience. Not only is this play culturally and politically relevant to the times we are in, but it teaches us how community can help us through the darkest times we go through in life. This is a must-see. 

Updates from Ohio’s Creative Community; the Hotline; True Public Safety, OIA in the Wild, and More!

The Cincinnati Enquirer published an important story about an Ohio man at risk of detention and deportation (read behind paywall). Nadhirou Tambadou is a hero and leader of a movement to demand human rights for Black Mauritanians, who was finally forced to seek safety in the United States after years of persecution by the Mauritanian government.

The Guardian is reporting that at least six Customs and Border Patrol officers had personal relationships with Jeffrey Epstein, and were involved in facilitating group travel to and from his private island.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance has been tracking the number of ICE and Border Patrol agents committing sexual and/or violent crimes against women and children. Since we first published the list we have had to update it several times, as more criminal agents continue to get arrested. The total as of February 26, 2026 is 37, with two-thirds of the agents committing sexual offenses against children. This list does not even include the six agents who helped facilitate travel to Epstein’s island, as they have not yet been charged with crimes.

The Ohio Immigrant Hotline is a public good that serves the entire state. That’s why we are inviting organizations, individuals, and businesses to show their support for the Hotline by sponsoring it today. It costs approximately $6,000 for us to run the Hotline for a month, including incident intake and fulfillment. We have three tiers of sponsorship available.

When things feel heavy, Ohio’s creative community shows up.

Over the past few weeks, we at the Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA) have been moved by the ways people across the state are stepping up to support immigrants and speak out against ICE. Artists of all kinds are using their crafts to raise money to support our mission. Restaurants are putting their menus to work. And more is on the way. Ohioans are being both creative and brave, using their talents to fund immigrant protection and show support for a fair and humane immigration policy.

Said Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, “Art gives us access to worlds we’ve never seen, and helps us see our world in new ways. Food is another thing we have in common across backgrounds, and a way for people to come together. We are so grateful to the artists, makers, activators, and good people throughout Ohio who are working to make this a better state and donating to our cause. We have no room at our tables for ICE. We only have room for each other.” 

Here's what's happening right now, from DJs, tattoo and textile artists, restaurants, authors, pop-up markets, and more. There’s still time to support their work and make a donation to OIA. If you want to start your own fundraiser, contact us at hotline@ohioimmigrant.org for support.

OIA’s Advocacy Director Demba Babaly Ndiath attended an Iftar the Ohio Statehouse yesterday, hosted by Rep. Munira Abdullahi. He said, "It was a powerful moment of community gathering, reflection, and shared humanity. Hearing the Adhan echo in the people’s house, and praying Maghrib behind Imam Ayman Soliman during this blessed month of Ramadan, brought deep hope to my heart — especially at a time of profound despair and fear within our immigrant communities.”