ACLU-Ohio sues another county for ICE records

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(The Center Square) – A second Ohio county is facing a lawsuit for not releasing information pertaining to contracts with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio wants public records from the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office that relate to documents and communications connected to its agreement with ICE to handle federal immigration functions.

The group filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court after Sheriff Fredrick Stevens refused to release the information. It’s the second lawsuit against an Ohio county for the same information. The ACLU earlier sued Geauga County.

The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office entered into a partnership with ICE as a detention facility and offers specialized training programs for deputies.

It’s been an ICE facility for 25 years, holding people waiting on immigration proceedings. The federal government pays the county for each person held at the facility.

ACLU-Ohio asked for contracts and related information with the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and the U.S. Marshals Service in March.

Stevens said the information is federal records and subject to federal open records laws and not state disclosure laws.

ACLU-Ohio disagrees.

“The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office has a clear legal duty to provide the requested information,” said Freda Levenson, legal director of ACLU-Ohio. “The Sheriff’s Office has never denied that they possess such records, and there is no provision in Ohio Public Records Law that exempts them from the obligation to produce these records. Nor do the federal statutes cited by the Sheriff’s Office exempt them from disclosure. The public has a right to this information. Local law enforcement must be accountable; it cannot shroud itself in secrecy.”

The similar case against Geauga County is pending.

“The ACLU of Ohio is deeply committed to protecting immigrants’ rights and our organization serves as a watchdog for government transparency and accountability,” said Jocelyn Rosnick, chief policy and advocacy officer of ACLU-Ohio. "Ohio counties like Seneca and Geauga cannot hide behind federal immigration officials to avoid obligations under Ohio law. Our lawful demands for timely and accurate information must not be ignored."