Cincinnati Mayor Speaks Out Against Federal Immigration Tactics

Aftab Pureval says aggressive enforcement operations undermine public trust and safety

Jan. 30, 2026 at 12:47pm

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Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval criticized the tactics used by federal agents in immigration enforcement operations, stating that the rhetoric and actions of labeling victims as "domestic terrorists" or "insurgents" with no evidence erodes public trust and creates more public safety concerns than it solves.

Why it matters

As a Democratic mayor in a Republican-led state, Pureval's comments highlight the growing tensions between local and federal authorities over immigration enforcement policies, which can have significant impacts on community relations and public safety.

The details

Pureval told CNN's Dana Bash that the aggressive rhetoric and actions of federal agents, such as accusing victims of being domestic terrorists or trying to "massacre federal agents" without evidence, undermine the trust between law enforcement and the community. He believes these tactics create more public safety concerns than they resolve.

  • The interview with Mayor Pureval aired on CNN on January 30, 2026.

The players

Aftab Pureval

The Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“When you come out and say that victims who are killed are domestic terrorists or trying to, trying to massacre federal agents with no evidence and now calling them insurgents again with no evidence, it erodes that trust.”

— Aftab Pureval, Mayor of Cincinnati

What’s next

Mayor Pureval's comments are likely to fuel ongoing debates over federal immigration enforcement tactics and their impact on local communities.

The takeaway

As a Democratic mayor in a Republican-led state, Pureval's criticism of federal immigration enforcement tactics highlights the growing tensions between local and federal authorities over these policies, which can have significant impacts on community relations and public safety.