At the dawn of the 21st century, factory closures, population exodus, and rampant drug abuse contributed to the decline of Hamilton, a small town in Ohio’s Midwest. However, a subsequent influx of immigrants, establishing numerous Mexican restaurants and Latin American cafes, revitalized the town. They enriched the cultural landscape through festive celebrations and community engagement, and their tax contributions bolstered both local and state government coffers. Nearly forty percent of the town’s residents are Hispanic, and the number of non-English speakers is almost double the Ohio state average. Yet, this tranquil border town is now overshadowed by the looming threat of the U.S. government’s immigration crackdown.
Detained immigrants receive $720,000 per month.
Nearly three-quarters of Hamilton’s foreign-born population lack legal U.S. citizenship, and many residents live in fear. Mitz Hernandez, a community leader who relocated from Mexico City 23 years ago, recently stated, “People’s anxieties are growing; this fear is not limited to the Hispanic immigrant community; it affects all immigrant groups.”
A recent survey reveals that over 90% of the 384 individuals detained at Butler County Jail are incarcerated on immigration-related charges. Sheriff Richard Jones, who oversees the jail, describes Florida as having “Alligator Devil’s Island” (a detention center known for its crocodile and snake population – Editor’s note), while referring to his own town as having a “swamp team.” At least ten Butler County officers have completed a 40-hour training program and received certification as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. They perform ICE duties, detaining and arresting suspected undocumented immigrants. Furthermore, Sheriff Jones enjoys widespread support among local residents for his anti-immigration stance. The hundreds of detained immigrants generate over $24,000 in daily subsidies from ICE for Butler County Jail, totaling $720,000 per month, excluding significant transportation fees the jail charges the authorities for immigrant transfers.
Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gemperle warned that county leaders and authorities could face “potential liability” and legal consequences for incarcerating hundreds of individuals on immigration charges rather than criminal offenses.
Eliciting intense fear and anger
The recent arrest and imprisonment of Egyptian immigrant Ayman Soliman, accused of ties to a “terrorist organization,” has sparked fear and anger among immigrant communities, symbolizing a broader societal divide in the United States. Some view the government’s crackdown on immigration as crucial for national security, while others see immigrants as a cornerstone of American life. Soliman faces potential execution if deported to Egypt. Further fueling public outrage are his abrupt dismissal from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and alleged police brutality during his arrest.
A protest against the detention of Suleiman erupted in downtown Cincinnati, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals, including two reporters from the local news website “CityBeat,” on felony riot charges. Arrest videos show police repeatedly beating protesters, deploying pepper balls (which burst on impact, releasing a large cloud of irritating dust to disperse crowds), and violently subduing several participants. “Journalists and the press in America are under threat…It’s disappointing that our efforts to cover the protest were deliberately misrepresented as a riot,” said Ashley Moor, editor of CityBeat. “The claim that we participated in a ’riot’ is baseless; its purpose is to intimidate us, silence us, and make us complicit.” Officer Zachary Staton, who was shown in videos repeatedly beating protesters, resulting in serious injuries requiring hospitalization, has been placed on paid administrative leave by the police department.
Concerned about federal retaliation?
Five days after Soliman’s detention, his former colleague at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Diop, visited him in prison and gave a television interview, resulting in Diop’s dismissal from the hospital. Supervisors informed her that she faced serious disciplinary action for violating “media policy.” Diop stated, “I worked here for 10 years, never received disciplinary action, and my work performance has always been excellent. My dismissal feels like my world, my life, my self has been torn apart. Is it my actions that caused the hospital to fear federal retribution?” In a similar incident, another Cincinnati Children’s Hospital employee, Adam Allen, was dismissed days later for participating in a vigil preceding a protest. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital receives hundreds of millions of dollars annually in federal funding for treatment and research.
“The increasing number of arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in other states has caused considerable anxiety,” said Hernandez. “But our community is incredibly resilient. We have faced hardships before, and it takes courage to relocate to a new country in search of a better life. Despite the fear, people continue to move forward. The most important thing is to stand together.”