Immigration Policy in Cincinnati, OH: What Residents Actually Need to Know

Cincinnati maintains 209 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with immigration policy. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Cincinnati falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Cincinnati declared itself a sanctuary city in 2017 under Executive Order 2017-001, limiting local police cooperation with federal immigration detainers and inquiries except for serious criminal warrants.

Key details: Order: Executive Order 2017-001. Year adopted: January 2017. Detainers: Judicial warrant required. Schools policy: CPS welcoming policy. Reform context: Collaborative Agreement.

City employees who improperly share status information or honor warrantless ICE detainers risk discipline; the city itself faces no Ohio penalty under current law.

Cincinnati is more permissive than most cities when it comes to sanctuary policy preemption. That said, there are still limits.

E-Verify Mandates

Ohio does not require private employers to use E-Verify, though state contractors must enroll under Executive Order 2025-01. Cincinnati does not impose a city-wide private E-Verify mandate.

Key details: State order: Ohio EO 2025-01. Contract threshold: $75,000 state contracts. Federal contractors: FAR 52.222-54 required. Private mandate: None statewide. Cincinnati requirement: Federal Form I-9 only.

Federal contractors who skip E-Verify face suspension and debarment. Most Cincinnati private employers without state contracts have no E-Verify obligation beyond federal Form I-9.

Cincinnati is more permissive than most cities when it comes to e-verify mandates. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Cincinnati gives residents more room on immigration policy. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Cincinnati's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.