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TAKE ACTION: Urge Ohio Leaders to Oppose SB 172

Ohio Senate Bill 172 is a dangerous and extreme proposal that would dramatically expand immigration enforcement across our state and put immigrant families, Ohio residents, and community institutions at risk.

SB 172 would require state and local officials to allow the arrest or detention of anyone suspected of being unlawfully present in the U.S., anywhere in Ohio and under virtually any circumstances. This includes civil and administrative immigration matters, not just criminal cases, and applies even without a judicial warrant.

If enacted, this bill would:

  • Allow immigration arrests in courts, schools, places of worship, polling places, hospitals, and community spaces

  • Eliminate long-standing Ohio protections that limit civil arrests

  • Force local governments, police, schools, and public institutions to comply, overriding local policies

  • Increase racial profiling and fear, discouraging people from going to court, seeking health care, attending school, or participating in civic life

SB 172 goes far beyond current law and would make Ohio less safe by undermining trust between communities and public institutions.

What You Can Do Right Now

Contact your Ohio House Representative and the Governor’s Office and urge them to OPPOSE SB 172.

Calls matter. Emails matter. This is the moment to speak up.

Call Script:

Hello, my name is ___, and I live in ___.

I’m calling to urge [Representative ___ / Governor DeWine] to oppose SB 172.

This bill would allow immigration arrests anywhere in Ohio — including courts, schools, and places of worship, based on suspicion alone, even for civil immigration matters.

SB 172 would harm families, undermine public safety, and erode trust in our communities.

Please oppose SB 172 and protect the safety and rights of all Ohioans.

Thank you.

Email Template:

Subject: Please Oppose SB 172

Dear [Representative / Governor DeWine],

I am writing as an Ohio resident to urge you to oppose Senate Bill 172.

SB 172 would require state and local officials to allow the arrest or detention of people who are suspected of being unlawfully present in the United States, anywhere in Ohio and under virtually any circumstances. This includes civil and administrative immigration matters, even without a judicial warrant.

If enacted, this bill would allow immigration enforcement actions in places that should be safe and accessible to everyone, including courts, schools, places of worship, and health care facilities. It would override long-standing Ohio protections and undermine trust between communities and public institutions.

Policies like SB 172 do not make Ohio safer. Instead, they increase fear, encourage racial profiling, and deter people from attending court, seeking medical care, enrolling their children in school, or cooperating with public officials.

I urge you to oppose SB 172 and stand for public safety, due process, and the dignity of all Ohio communities.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[City or ZIP Code]

——————————————————————

Ohio should be a place where people can go to school, work, worship, and seek care without fear.
Tell your elected leaders: Vote NO on SB 172.

Protect Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Holders in Ohio

What is TPS?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a humanitarian program that allows people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary crises to live and work legally in the United States while their home countries remain unsafe for return.

Now, thousands of TPS holders across the country are losing their legal protection and work authorization as designations are ending, even though many of their home countries are still in crisis.

Here in Ohio, there are 26,490 TPS holders, most originally from Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti, and El Salvador. Many have lived here for years, raising families, buying homes, and working in essential industries. Despite ongoing instability, violence, and economic collapse in their home countries, their protection in the U.S. is now at risk.

Ohio has the 13th largest number of TPS holders in the United States, and together they contribute over a billion dollars in taxes and help keep our local economy strong. Ending TPS would not only harm these individuals and their families but also deeply affect Ohio’s communities and workforce.

Now is the time to urge our elected officials to protect TPS holders and call for a permanent, humane solution.

Example Call or Email Script

Subject: Protect Ohio’s TPS Holders

Message:

Hello,

My name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your City], Ohio. I’m writing to urge you to oppose the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and to support legislation that provides a pathway to permanent residency for TPS holders.

TPS allows people from countries facing war, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances to live and work legally in the U.S. Ohio is home to more than 26,000 TPS holders, many from Venezuela, Honduras, Haiti, and El Salvador. They are integral members of our communities, working, paying taxes, and raising families.

Their home countries are still experiencing severe humanitarian crises, and ending TPS would put lives at risk. I hope you’ll stand with TPS holders and advocate for policies that keep families together and strengthen our communities.

Thank you for your time and for representing Ohio.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City, OH]

Find Your Representatives

You can look up your representatives here:

The Myth of Self-Deportation

Deportation is a legal process that only a judge or DHS can order — not something people do to themselves. Using this term spreads fear, fuels anti-immigrant propaganda, and confuses real stories of migration.

Check out the graphics below to learn more about the myth of “self-deportation.”

Fundraise for IIA

During these uncertain times, immigrant and refugee families need our support more than ever. With deepening budget cuts and growing uncertainty around the future of refugee resettlement and immigrant rights, organizations like the International Institute of Akron are facing serious challenges in continuing this vital work.

Whether families are experiencing housing insecurity, job loss, legal struggles, or the overwhelming task of rebuilding their lives in a new country, your support matters.

Host a fundraiser for IIA and help provide essentials like case management, food, rent, school supplies, interpretation services, and legal assistance to those who need it most.

Use our Fundraising Guide to get started—with easy steps, creative ideas, and tools to help you make an impact. Access our fundraising guide by clicking on the image below.

Together, we can ensure Akron remains a welcoming, supportive home for all.

 

Know Your Rights

If you are an immigrant interested in a presentation on knowing your rights if ICE stops you, please email Kevin.Walter@iiakron.org

American Immigration Lawyers Association - Know Your Rights: If ICE Visits Your Home (English & Spanish)

Immigration Legal Resource Center - Red Cards / Tarjetas Rojas (Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Khmer, Korean, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Vietnamese)

Advocacy

Families in our communities are living in fear due to ICE enforcement, creating unnecessary harm and instability. This is not the way forward. Additionally, the Refugee Resettlement Program provides essential services that help newcomers rebuild their lives, and we must ensure its continued support and funding

Take a stand by calling your representatives and telling them:

✅ I oppose the fear and uncertainty caused by aggressive ICE enforcement tactics in our communities. These actions tear families apart, undermine trust, and destabilize neighborhoods.

✅ I support continued—and increased—funding and resources for refugee resettlement programs. These programs are essential lifelines for people fleeing violence and persecution, and they reflect our nation's best values.

✅ I demand that due process be upheld for every immigrant. This includes access to legal representation, fair hearings, and humane treatment throughout the immigration system.

For contact information of your local representatives, please visit: https://findmydistrict.ohiosos.gov/

For a sample call and email script, please visit: https://www.aclu-il.org/en/talking-your-representatives

Please see additional resources below:

Self-Education Resources

We will be sharing educational materials to help supporters gain a better understanding of any updates, news, or information.

One of the best ways to make a difference is through education—understanding the history, policies, and personal stories that shape immigrant experiences. Below is a curated list of books that offer deep insight into the realities of migration, refugee crises, and resilience.

Recommended Reads:

  • Not a Nation of Immigrants by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz – Challenges the traditional narrative that the U.S. is a nation built by immigrants, revealing the deep-rooted history of settler colonialism, forced displacement, and exclusionary policies.

  • Everyone Who is Gone is Here by Jonathan Blitzer – A deeply reported book that follows asylum seekers and immigration advocates, providing a gripping look at the U.S. immigration system’s failures and complexities.

  • Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas shares his powerful personal story of growing up undocumented in America, offering a raw and emotional perspective on identity and belonging.

  • The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya – A heartbreaking yet hopeful memoir about escaping the Rwandan genocide as a child, spending years in refugee camps, and rebuilding a new life in the U.S.

  • The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri – A thought-provoking blend of memoir and investigative reporting, challenging the way refugees are perceived and the burdens placed upon them.

  • The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen – A collection of beautifully written short stories that explore the lives of Vietnamese refugees, shedding light on themes of displacement, survival, and identity.

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