The congresswoman who represents the Akron area has created “tip sheets” for those in the area who are worried about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents cracking down on illegal aliens.
The tip sheet “allows people to be able to protect themselves and some best practices we picked up from colleagues across the country that we can share with folks,” U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes told the Akron Beacon Journal.
President Donald Trump has vowed to crack down on those living in the country illegally, launching efforts to apprehend and deport those in the country charged with crimes. This week, ICE agents apprehended dozens of illegal aliens in Northeast Ohio, mainly in and around Cleveland.
“If that is what the president wants to carry out, he should carry that out,” the Akron Beacon Journal quoted Sykes as saying, “but he also has to remember that living amongst all these folks are American citizens who also have rights and don’t deserve to be caught up in this inadvertently because this is a haphazard raid that they might do.”
According to the report, the sheets are available in Burmese, Nepali, Spanish, and English. Her website also has a section on “Know Your Rights.”
“If ICE shows up to your home or place of work, ask to see a warrant before you open the door,” reads one of the tips. “If ICE enters your home without your permission, probable cause, or a warrant, clearly state that you do not give them permission to enter or search your belongings,” reads another.
A representative for Sykes did not immediately respond to Ohio. news’ request about the congresswoman potentially being seen as hindering ICE efforts and to clarify her stance on illegal immigration, whether she supports ICE in removing anyone here illegally, including those charged with crimes, and if she was concerned that someone charged with a serious felony could use the tip sheets to evade ICE.
Liberals love to tout the benefits of immigrants — at times downplaying that some entered the country illegally. However, according to a NewsNation report, citing a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) estimates, illegal immigration cost U.S. taxpayers more than $150 billion in 2023.
ICE agents’ efforts and focus on communities in Ohio should be no surprise to local officials. Some Buckeye State leaders previously confirmed to Ohio.news that they plan to help the Trump administration with deportations.
Reports of similar raids across the country, including in liberal cities such as New York City and Chicago, have surfaced since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, delivering a campaign promise of the 47th president. According to Axios, upward of 5,000 people have been arrested in raids nationwide since Trump returned to office.
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, on which Sykes’ husband serves, has vowed to create safe spaces for residents “regardless of immigration status.” The county, home to the Ohio Statehouse, vowed on Facebook to help those worried about “interactions with government agencies.”
Ohio reportedly has six unofficial sanctuary cities. This topic of obstructive local officials came up at a Friday White House press briefing when a reporter inquired about ICE’s efforts to track down criminal aliens and reports that some local authorities in Illinois and Maryland are obstructing these efforts.
“It’s very interesting that Democrat officials in these cities, who have been completely overrun and overwhelmed by illegal immigrant criminals, would refuse support and help to cure this problem that has especially taken over their cities,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. “I guess they don’t want to admit they’ve been wrong with their sanctuary city policies."
Leavitt added: "They would be very wise to comply with this administration because this administration is hell-bent on enforcing our nation’s immigration laws, and this administration will continue to arrest and detain and deport illegal migrant criminals, and what we won’t do is defy our nation’s immigration laws, like the previous administration,” Leavitt added, suggesting sanctuary city leaders might be violating federal law.
