Columbus does not formally call itself a sanctuary city. Mayor Andrew Ginther's policy directs Columbus Division of Police to limit cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement absent a judicial warrant, while Ohio HB 56-style preemption efforts have not enacted statewide bans.
Mayor Andrew Ginther and successive Columbus Division of Police chiefs have issued operational directives limiting officer participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. CPD officers do not ask about immigration status during routine contact, do not honor ICE civil detainers without a judicial warrant, and do not deputize for ICE under Section 287(g). Columbus has avoided the formal sanctuary label, partly to deflect Ohio General Assembly preemption efforts; multiple bills (including 2017-era HB 56 proposals) attempted to bar sanctuary policies and withhold state funds, but no comprehensive ban has become law. Federal supremacy still applies for criminal warrants and judicial process.
Officers who breach CPD directives face administrative discipline up to termination. There is no civil penalty for residents; the policy binds the city, not private parties.
See how Columbus's sanctuary policy preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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