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Immigrant residents urge Dublin council to oppose Ohio bills they say would ban some foreign‑born homeowners
Summary
During the July 1 public‑comment period, three Dublin residents described their immigrant backgrounds and urged council to oppose Ohio House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, which they said would restrict homeownership for non‑citizens; city officials said they will monitor the bills and communicate concerns to state representatives.
Dublin — Three residents told Dublin City Council on July 1 they fear proposed state legislation would prevent many foreign‑born or noncitizen residents from buying homes or otherwise harm the city’s diverse community.
Speakers and main points - Hong Qiu (resident, 6480 Woodin Circle): Qiu said she has lived in Dublin for 19 years and served on the Community Service Advisory Commission for four years. She said she worries that Ohio House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88 "aim to ban people like me from owning a home in Ohio," calling such measures "unfair" and "an attack on fairness, on civil rights." She asked the council to advocate with state legislators for "a more thoughtful and balanced approach" that protects rights and enforces security without undermining residents’ dignity. - Yin (Yin) Wu (resident, 6753 Oliver Way): Wu described choosing Dublin for its schools, parks and diverse community and said the bills would "threaten to rewrite our story here." "These bills... target families, target teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and simply because of where they were born," Wu said, urging the council to raise awareness and protect the city’s inclusive character. - Shotaro Sekito (resident, 7530 Mill Springs Drive): Sekito, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Japan, said the bills recalled a painful history—he referred to World War II internment of Japanese Americans—and argued the proposed changes would tear apart community fabric and displace legal residents and visa holders.
Council response and next steps Mayor and staff said the city will monitor the bills, communicate concerns to state representatives and keep citizens informed. The mayor noted the legislation has had three hearings in the Statehouse and remains in committee; legislators will be on break until the fall when the bills may be taken up again.
Why it matters: Speakers emphasized that the bills could affect residents, school employees and local businesses and urged Dublin to make its views known to state lawmakers. Council indicated it will continue to monitor developments and update residents who provided contact information when signing in.
Ending: Council acknowledged the public comments and said staff would continue to track the bills and communicate with the city’s elected officials about resident and corporate concerns.
