Ohio House Democrats Introduce Bills to Regulate ICE Presence in Ohio

The bills would ban officers from wearing face coverings and restrict immigration enforcement in certain locations.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Ohio House Democrats are introducing a series of bills related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including measures that would prohibit ICE officers from wearing face coverings, restrict immigration enforcement in schools and places of worship, and limit state entities from collecting and sharing data on citizenship and immigration status.

Why it matters

These bills aim to increase transparency and accountability for ICE operations in Ohio, as well as protect the privacy and civil liberties of Ohio residents. The proposals come amid concerns about the use of data collection and surveillance tactics by federal immigration authorities.

The details

The bills introduced by Ohio House Democrats include measures that would: ban law enforcement from wearing face coverings to conceal their identities; prohibit immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, hospitals, and courthouses; limit state entities from collecting and sharing data on citizenship and immigration status; and establish minimum standards for Ohio's immigration detention centers. The lawmakers say these bills are intended to safeguard constitutional rights and community trust in law enforcement.

  • The bills will be introduced in the coming weeks and will be assigned bill numbers.

The players

Ohio House Democrats

A group of Democratic state representatives in the Ohio House who are introducing the bills to regulate ICE presence and activities in the state.

Dani Isaacsohn

Ohio House Minority Leader, who stated that the bills are not partisan issues but about protecting basic constitutional rights.

Karen Brownlee

Ohio State Representative who is introducing a bill to prohibit law enforcement from wearing face coverings.

Allison Russo

Ohio State Representative who is putting forth a bill to limit state entities from collecting and sharing data on citizenship and immigration status.

Ismail Mohamed

Ohio State Representative who is introducing a bill to prohibit immigration enforcement in schools, places of worship, hospitals, and courthouses.

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What they’re saying

“We're talking about basic constitutional rights. These are freedoms that we all enjoy as Americans.”

— Dani Isaacsohn, Ohio House Minority Leader (clevescene.com)

“The goal is simple, face coverings should not be worn as a way to evade public accountability for faulty, improper or illegal policing tactics.”

— Karen Brownlee, Ohio State Representative (clevescene.com)

“Every Ohio deserves the right to feel safe in their school and place of worship.”

— Ismail Mohamed, Ohio State Representative (clevescene.com)

What’s next

The bills will be introduced in the coming weeks and will be assigned bill numbers. The Ohio House, which has a Republican supermajority, will then consider the legislation.

The takeaway

These bills aim to increase transparency, accountability, and privacy protections around ICE operations in Ohio, reflecting broader concerns about the tactics and data collection practices of federal immigration authorities. The proposals highlight the ongoing political tensions and debates around immigration enforcement at the state and local level.