Columbus, OH Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)
Key Facts
- 287(g) agreements
- require council ordinance approval
- Detainer-only holds
- barred without an approved agreement
- Service denial by status
- barred under § 161.10
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 0515-2026, Feb. 25, 2026
Summary
Columbus bars city staff from holding people on ICE detainer requests alone and requires council approval before police can sign a 287(g) enforcement agreement.
No department, employee, public official, or public servant of the city shall enter into, renew, or participate in a 287(g) Agreement with the federal government without approval by ordinance of council. ... the city shall not institute any policy that allows a department, employee, public official, or public servant of the city to stop, arrest, or detain a person; or continue to detain a person after that person would otherwise be legally free to leave, based solely on ... [a]n immigration detainer request ... [or] [i]nformation or suspicion that the person is not present legally in the United States
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Form Based Code: ?).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 161.11 blocks any Columbus department, employee, or official from entering a 287(g) agreement with federal immigration authorities without a council-approved ordinance, and bars using city funds, personnel, equipment, or facilities on 287(g) activities absent that approval. Unless such an agreement is in place, the city may not stop, arrest, or continue detaining someone based solely on an immigration detainer request, a civil immigration administrative warrant, or suspicion the person lacks legal status. A companion section, § 161.10, separately bars city staff from denying services based on immigration status or soliciting immigration-status information on service applications, absent a court order.
Violations & Fines
No fine schedule is written into Chapter 161 for these sections; enforcement runs through internal city policy and employee discipline (§ 161.10 already ties violations of its ICE-secondary-employment ban to discipline up to termination) rather than a criminal penalty against the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Columbus police detain someone just because ICE issues a detainer request?
Has Columbus police signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
Compare Columbus to another location·View the Ohio immigration policy overview
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