ICE detainees report mistreatment at Butler County Jail
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Local elected officials and attorneys are working to learn more about the conditions faced by ICE detainees at the Butler County Jail, who have reported overcrowding, limited food and other complaints.
Why it matters: December ICE raids in Central Ohio resulted in more than 200 arrests, with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther calling the presence "unwelcome."
- Other local and state officials reported little to no contact with federal officials about the operations or those who were arrested.
Driving the news: Last week, State Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Mark Sigrist (D-Grove City) joined Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) in sending a letter to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and urged it to "take immediate steps to ensure humane, safe, and lawful conditions for individuals detained at the Butler County Jail."
- The southwest Ohio jail is one of several in the state with an agreement to help federal immigration enforcement and hold detainees.
- An Ohio Immigrant Alliance analysis from Dec. 24 found that at least 137 detainees were being held there.
What we're hearing: Cockley and DeMora tell Axios they've both heard reports of inmate mistreatment and say they have been stonewalled in attempts to tour the jail or learn more.
What they're saying: "This is supposed to be civil detention; instead, people are being punished," immigration attorney Julie Nemecek, who represents dozens of the detainees, tells Axios.
- Nemecek says her clients have reported hunger, a lack of religious accommodations, 20-hour days in cells, overcrowding and a lack of health care.
- "One client told me a doctor comes once a week and they can only see two or three people, so I've had clients report that it's taken them weeks to get any attention at all."
- Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones' office has not responded to an Axios request for comment.
Friction point: Nemecek says her clients have complained about the jail's infamous "Warden Burger," which has drawn criticism before.
- Some are just repulsed by the "mushy meat," while others are Muslim and doubt its halal status.
- The Ohio Revised Code specifically requires meal modifications to accommodate inmates' religion.
Another point of contention is the jail's capacity of about 850.
- Cockley, DeMora and Nemecek have all heard reports of overcrowding, and the jail's website listed a population of more than 1,000 as of Friday.
- Cockley says she's been told that website figure represents three different facilities, and was sent a Dec. 22 inspection report that found the jail had a population of 797.
The other side: In a Jan. 7 Facebook video, the sheriff called the letter "the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life" and referred to Cockley, DeMora and Sigrist as "the Three Stooges."
- "The bar must be awful low to get elected, where they're from," Jones said. "They're probably whining and crying because I have illegals in my jail."
- Jones added that the jail is "200 under" capacity and can fit more.
- He said the "Warden Burger" is approved by dietitians and is "probably the most nutritious meal we serve."
The bottom line: Officials and attorneys say what they want most is information, communication and transparency from ICE and the jail.
- "It's causing so much fear," Cockley says. "At minimum, what we need is transparency."
Butler County Jail's controversial history
Jones and the Butler County Jail are no strangers to the spotlight.
Context: Jones was first elected sheriff in 2004, and is a regular Fox News guest.
Over the past 20 years, the jail has dealt with multiple accusations of poor treatment, civil rights violations and other controversies.
2004: Jones attracted national attention when he erected an "Illegal Aliens Here" sign outside the jail, which still stands.
2006: Two Butler County inmate suicides within a week prompted the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio to send a letter urging an investigation of the jail.
2007: The ACLU again urged an investigation after two more suicides.
2020: Two ICE prisoners filed a lawsuit alleging they were assaulted multiple times by corrections officers at the jail. The lawsuit is still pending.
2021: Two more inmates died by suicide over a period of five weeks.
2024: Jones said former FBI Director Christopher Wray warned him of threats of terror attacks, so he ordered AR-15 rifles in every police cruiser, changed training protocols and ordered hazmat equipment.
2025: The city of Fairfield and Butler County paid a $1.2 million settlement after 500 people claimed they were held in the jail between 2017 and 2019 without seeing a judge for multiple days.