Gov. DeWine supports Trump's mass deportation plans
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Gov. Mike DeWine speaks to the media at the Republican National Convention. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Gov. Mike DeWine vows to assist with President-elect Trump's mass deportation plans, but is offering few details on how the efforts might play out in Ohio.
Why it matters: The federal government doesn't have enough resources to carry out Trump's goal of deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants from the U.S. without cooperation from state and local police.
The latest: DeWine recently joined 25 other Republican governors in pledging to use "state law enforcement or the National Guard" to help.
- That gives Trump the promised cooperation of a majority of states — including those with some of the largest populations of undocumented people.
Between the lines: The efforts will focus on "dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists who are in this country illegally," DeWine spokesperson Dan Tierney told Axios in an email.
- When asked how Ohio law enforcement would identify those people, Tierney replied: "State law enforcement is not a primary agency in deportation actions. Federal law enforcement is the primary agency."
By the numbers: An estimated 130,000 undocumented immigrants were living in Ohio in 2022, per Pew Research Center.
- That's just over 1% of the state population and 21% of all immigrants living in Ohio.
Reality check: Mass deportations will likely face several procedural roadblocks and the estimated $150 billion to $350 billion price tag is steep.
Yes, but: Wednesday's letter from the Republican Governors Association said, "We stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposal" and "we will do everything in our power to assist in removing them from our communities."
What we're watching: If Ohio cities take a stand on the issue, which could make its way to local governments.
- That's happening in other states such as Colorado, where Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has pledged to protect undocumented immigrants.
What they're saying: Mayor Andrew Ginther dismissed Trump's plans at a news conference last month, calling it "all discussion" and telling reporters he didn't run to be "anti-Trump."
- On Friday, a spokesperson directed Axios to Ginther's 2017 executive order that reads: "It shall be the policy of the City of Columbus to vigorously oppose any effort to require the use of local taxpayer resources for the enforcement of federal immigration policy."
- Columbus City Council recently created a 15-member commission to report on issues that concern local immigrants, to be seated by March 1.