Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said his office arrested two illegal aliens who used fake identification to access a construction site at the county jail in Hamilton.
At about 11:30 a.m. on March 26, officials discovered some workers’ credentials appeared fraudulent. The Butler County Sheriff’s Office recently partnered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and an agent from the department was at the main jail.
“You just can’t make this stuff up. I’ve been very verbal with my stance on illegal immigration and two illegal aliens come to the Butler County Jail to work,” Jones said in a statement. “I do believe I’ve now seen it all.”
An ICE agent interviewed the two, who admitted they were in the United States illegally.
“You wouldn’t think that, of all places to go, that to come to the Butler County Jail work site back in our jail where we have ICE agents that work, have office space in our jail, you wouldn’t think two illegal aliens would show fake ID and go through the security to get into the Butler County Jail,” the sheriff said in a video posted to X. “But that’s exactly what happened.
“...This shows you the gall,” Jones added. “They don’t care.”
While the sheriff declined to identify the workers arrested, he said it was a father and son, and one of them had been arrested three times previously. They used “some of the best identification I’ve ever seen.”
The sheriff promised more job site enforcement and sent a shot across the bow of employers that hire illegal aliens.
“I want you to know, those of you that are hiring illegals, this is just one of many, and they’re coming,” Jones said. “If you’re here illegally, you better listen to what you’re being told. You better get on that [CBP Home Mobile] app, and you better self-deport. These people will never be able to come back to the United States. They’ll be deported very rapidly. So pay attention and watch. This is just one of many.”
According to a WLWT report, Butler County, located north of Cincinnati, started housing illegal aliens for ICE on March 5. Starting in 2003, the sheriff’s office worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to house detainees but stopped in 2021.
Additionally, the station reported that the sheriff is putting 10 deputies through ICE training, which would allow them to make ICE arrests.
The Butler County arrests are part of a larger federal focus on illegal aliens across the country. High-profile raids and arrests have occurred in many liberal-leaning cities, including in Ohio.
The Buckeye State has several sanctuary cities or jurisdictions; at least one estimate pegged the number at six. The Center for Immigration Studies identifies Franklin, Hamilton, Lorain, and Mahoning counties as sanctuary jurisdictions.
However, others may exist even in a quasi-official capacity.
As federal authorities continue their crackdown on illegal aliens nationwide, some Ohio lawmakers say U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi should investigate Ohio’s sanctuary cities next.
News of the Butler County arrests was met with mixed reactions on the sheriff’s office’s Facebook page.
“Every one says no one wants to work then you guys come arrest anyone who does,” a poster said.
“The difference is that you can come to the U.S. legally,” a second commenter said. “There are several ways to do so. You can work, go to school and have a life and family.
“But those who come here illegally have ignored even the basic law on how you can enter the country,” the second commenter added. “They literally have invaded. Yes, they are mostly wonderful people fleeing from a bad country. But they just cannot come in.”
