2026-04 - oppose ICE legislation in state house

Docusign Envelope ID: D498E5A4- 2B64- 4905- 9442- 7523B5FE8F6E Baker, Bixenstine, Bullock, RESOLUTION 2026- 04 BY: Evans, Kepple, Steiner, Strebig A RESOLUTION to take effect immediately provided it receives the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members of Council, or otherwise to take effect and be in force after the earliest period allowed by law, to join with the City of Cleveland in opposing a package of unconstitutional legislation currently pending before the Ohio General Assembly intended to empower Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) and promote an environment of fear and surveillance in our communities. WHEREAS, among other requirements and prohibitions, proposed House Bill 26 broadens the scope of situations in which local law enforcement agencies must comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prohibits state or local governmental agencies or political subdivisions from adopting sanctuary policies; and WHEREAS, proposed House Bill 42 requires state and local government agencies to collect and annually report information about citizenship and immigration status of persons with whom they come into contact, including K —12 students, even though the US Supreme Court has held that states may not deny undocumented children access to K- 12 public education; and WHEREAS, proposed House Bill 281 requires hospitals to allow ICE agents on premises to enforce immigration law, requires hospital employees to facilitate such access, and penalizes hospitals that fail to comply with penalties including suspending Medicaid provider agreements and withdrawing grant funding; and WHEREAS, proposed Senate Bill 172 broadens the scope of situations in which federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies may arrest or detain a person suspected of being unlawfully in the United States, attempts to strip away otherwise constitutionally protected rights of those arrestees, and punishes local governments that do not cooperate by withholding state funds; and, WHEREAS, these bills, individually and collectively, are clear violations of the United States Constitution, specifically, the Fourth Amendment prohibiting unreasonable searches and seizures and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. They also violate the Home Rule provisions of the Ohio Constitution; and WHEREAS, these bills are clearly intended to bully and intimidate local government entities into compliance by threatening budgetary consequences that would significantly handicap the ability of municipalities to govern and provide essential public services to their residents; and WHEREAS, this Council insists that local agencies, municipalities and hospitals should not be required to submit to unconstitutional laws that conflict with best practices in local law enforcement, compromise public trust in local government, and potentially endanger residents; and WHEREAS, as set forth in Section 2. 12 of the Third Amended Charter of the City of Lakewood, this Council by a vote of at least two thirds of its members determines that this

Docusign Envelope ID: D498E5A4- 2B64- 4905- 9442- 7523B5FE8F6E resolution is an emergency measure and that it shall take effect immediately, and that it is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public property, health, and safety and to provide for the usual daily operation of municipal departments, in that the Ohio legislature should not force local agencies, municipalities and hospitals into complicity with the flagrant abuses of power by DHS and ICE agents, now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. That this Council strongly opposes the package of unconstitutional legislation currently pending before the Ohio General Assembly intended to empower Immigrations and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) and promote an environment of fear and surveillance in our communities; specifically proposed House Bills 26, 42 and 281 and Senate Bill 172. Section 2. That the Cleric of Council is directed to transmit copies of this resolution to the leadership of the Ohio State House and Senate, Lakewood' s State Senator and State Representative. Section 3. That this resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and, provided it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to Council, it shall take effect and be in force immediately upon its adoption and approval by the Mayor; otherwise it shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. Docu3lgned by: Adopted: 2/ 17/ 2026 l Sarah Kepple, President of Council Docuftned by: Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council Approved: 21 2 3/ 21P q__ Meghan F. George, Mayor