Central Ohio Anti-ICE Info & Resources

Purpose of doc:

This document provides information on what we know is happening, how we are responding, what people should do if they hear ICE is at a location, and how they can support our efforts. Our hope is that we can all be helpful in some way, whether by reporting ICE activity, attending protests, or stepping up to help with groceries.

As with all “Stop ICE” information, please share this document judiciously – to friends or in vetted, closed groups. Please do not share on social media unless noted otherwise.

CRIS HAS A HOTLINE 614-874-1189

If your family member or loved one is currently detained by ICE, CRIS may be able to help locate your loved one and connect you with trusted resources. The hotline is monitored Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Calls received outside of these hours may leave a message and will be returned as soon as possible.
When you call, a hotline intake specialist will ask for a few basic details about your loved one’s situation. A member of the CRIS Legal Team will then follow up as soon as possible with relevant resources and next steps.

ICE WATCH RESOURCES LINK TREE

I.C.E. Watch Resources (many of the resources in this tree are also listed in this resource guide)

DEFEND AND RECRUIT TOOLS & RESOURCES

Tool & Resources

ACLU of Ohio Guides New

The ACLU of Ohio is dedicated to expanding and protecting the civil liberties and civil rights of immigrants and to combat public and private discrimination against them. Laws passed targeting immigrants are eventually extended to all citizens; for this reason, basic civil liberties, like the right to due process, must be protected for everyone. While the Constitution does not give people the right to enter the U.S., it protects them once they are here from discrimination based on race and national origin and from arbitrary treatment by the government. Regardless of immigration status, everyone has basic rights that are protected by the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. Below are guides for schools, health centers, churches, businesses, and others who engage with immigrant families (please keep in mind that several bills are in front of the Ohio legislature that could change this information):

SPECIFIC CALLS TO ACTION From Community Response Hub, 1/23/26 call to action

Volunteer Opportunity: Pack/Deliver groceries to people sheltering from ICE: Our Helpers

When: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-10am for packing or 10am for delivery
Location: 2021 E. Dublin Granville Road, Suite 197, Columbus, OH 43229

Many families are afraid to leave their homes and are sheltering in place from ICE. Our Helpers needs volunteers to pack and/or deliver boxes of food. They need 10 people each day, Monday - Friday. Packing is from 8:30am-10am, then drivers are out the door at 10 am to make deliveries. Please sign up using this volunteer form or contact Dr. Dorothy Hassan directly at dorothy.hassan@ourhelpers.org if you are able to help.

Weaving Threads of Hope Volunteer Opportunity: Mobilize and Protect Fridays, 11am-3pm

To ensure that our Muslim neighbors are able to pray safely and without fear of interruption, volunteers are requested on Fridays as part of a community safety initiative at the most vulnerable local mosques. Volunteers will keep an eye out for ICE activity and vehicles and make sure that doors are blocked during the prayer. Sign up to protect neighbors in prayer in these dark times, an ongoing way for people to get connected to mosque protection.
NOTE: The date in the form says December 19, but it is regularly monitored.

Help Central Ohio Build Its Coordinated Rapid Response!

Get all your friends to sign up to receive our weekly newsletter: bit.ly/ResponseHubCentralOhio
Ensure your organization has a representative on the Community Response Hub Leaders Signal Group so that we can respond effectively to any ICE activity here.
Did you know the Community Response Hub is on social media? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and stay up-to-date!

To share new or updated information, please email indivisibleknoxcooh@gmail.com or add a comment to this document. Thank you!

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE RESPONDING TO ICE ACTIVITY

Don’t go alone – call someone to meet you.
Don’t go without an ID/copy of a passport/something to show your citizenship.
Shut down biometrics on your phone.
Make sure you have water in a squirtable bottle in case you are pepper-sprayed
Blow whistle – warns undocumented people to flee and invites U.S. citizens to come to the scene to record arrests, give detainees legal information, and discourage agents from lingering. Three blasts!
Take photographs of ICE vehicles (license plates) and any individuals; videotape activity; see more info in the graphic below, including taking detailed notes.
Keep a safe distance to avoid chemical spray.
Your purpose there is to try to get ICE to leave as quickly as possible without taking anyone.

*SEE Whistle Brigade tool available in the “Other Resources” tab.

TRACKING ICE ACTIVITY with ICE OUT

Most activists use https://iceout.org/en/ to track and report ICE activity nationwide. We recommend this online tool, but also encourage you to read about how to verify ICE activity below in this section.

Other reporting/tracking tools:
https://www.iceinmyarea.org/

See ICE? Follow the guide below: On-Site Reporting of ICE by Ohio Immigrant Alliance

START FILMING/START TALKING

Approach the scene & try to communicate with the people being detained.
Ask the ICE officers questions about the detainees.
Be ANNOYING. Be EMOTIONAL. Be PERSISTENT. Be DIFFICULT.
*ICE will lie to you; you have the right to watch and advocate*

ADVOCATE

Attempt to identify the language spoken. Learn the following ahead of time in Spanish & Haitian Creole:

In English, “I am here to help. What is your name? Who can I call - Phone Number?”
In Spanish: “Estoy aquí para ayudar. ¿Cómo te llamas? ¿Cuál es un número de teléfono para llamar?
Haitian Creole: “M ka ede w. Ki non w? Ki nimewo telefòn pou rele?”
Record information for lawyers and families.
Take note of refusals to offer translators and other potential rights violations.

Email Immigration Hotline at: ohioishome.org/report-abuses

Call ABLE - Advocates for Basic Legal Equity: (937) 228-8104
*Social media sharing needs the same accurate information in reports to ABLE and hotline.*

AFTER ACTION SUPPORT

Once the scene is cleared, leave & meet with the response team.
Check in with each other & monitor for trauma symptoms
How are you feeling? Deep breaths, talk through the event, share needs, fears and anxiety
What you have experienced is traumatizing. Support each other.

REAL OR NOT? VERIFY ICE ACTIVITY

How to verify online reports of ICE activity. Tip: don’t feed misinformation. Use the document below for more tips on verifying before posting:

Real Or Rumor

Please share this information thoughtfully and take care as you do. Our strength is in looking out for one another. Thank you for staying connected and engaged.

Thumbnail preview for the linked URL.

ARCHIVED INFO

As of Wednesday, Dec. 24

Reported by Ohio Immigrant Alliance on 12/24/25

According to an analysis of publicly available data by researcher John Drury, at least 214 people were arrested as part “Operation Buckeye” and remain in detention as of December 24, 2025. In all likelihood, the number is higher. Eighty percent appear to be Latino, plus three people who are Indigenous from Guatemala. The next largest group — Africans — comprises less than 10%. Fully 93% of those arrested are men, and 7% are women. (Report methodology.)

The number of detained people who are citizens or legally authorized immigrants, who have pending immigration applications, or whose rights were violated by ICE and local police during this violent and chaotic time remains unknown.

As reported by Ohio Immigrant Alliance, here are some data points:

At least 214 people are currently detained in Ohio and Michigan jails — likely more. They are being held for civil reasons, not crimes.
Eighty percent of those detained are Latino, with Africans comprising the next-largest group at less than 10%.
Ninety-three percent are men, and 7% are women.
Citizens, legally authorized immigrants, and people with valid work permits and pending immigration cases are among those detained.
Agents aren’t looking for specific people, but rather racially profiling anyone they come across.
Law enforcement agencies who do not have 287(g) contracts are participating in the raids.
Due process and civil rights violations are exposing federal, state, and local agencies to potential legal liability.
ICE is destroying property, hurting people, and putting the community in danger by recklessly chasing individuals in cars.
The raids are devastating local businesses during what is typically the year’s most important time.
Houses of worship are also empty at an important time of the year.
Attempts to portray this as a criminal operation do not wash.
The Trump administration has yet to acknowledge the criminals in its own ranks.

Report from before 12/24/25: ICE is in Somali and Latino neighborhoods and schools on Morse between I-71 and Cleveland Ave. Check iceout.org for the latest sightings.

Children are advised to stay home; adults are advised not to go anywhere either. We understand they intend to be in the Columbus area for three weeks, though this is unconfirmed. We would like to make their visit much shorter by letting them know they are not welcome here.

Individual citizens have been driving around to try to spot and report ICE activity. However, at present, it is difficult for neighborhood defenders to arrive on the scene in time to take protective action before ICE has departed.

Below verified by Central OH Watch on 12/19.