Residents urge Clermont County to end cooperation with ICE, demand transparency on proposed data center

BATAVIA, Ohio — Dozens of residents used the public comment period at the Clermont County Board of Commissioners' Feb. 11 meeting to press the board to rescind its cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to demand greater transparency about a nearby commercial project residents said is being handled behind closed doors.

Bob Drake of Union Township told the commissioners that local collaboration with ICE "erodes trust, spurs racial profiling, and reduces public safety by deterring immigrant cooperation with police," and said deputies spending time on ICE holds takes them away from other duties. "Spending time acting as tools for the federal government is waste of resources," he said.

Jenny Sparks of Pierce Township asked the board to "rescind their cooperation as stated in the memorandum of agreement with ICE to participate in the federal 287(g) task force," citing media investigations and agency data she said documented cases where U.S. citizens were detained during enforcement operations. "I am fearful for [my grandchildren's] futures," she said, and asked the commissioners to reverse the county's participation.

Other speakers framed their objections in moral and historical terms. Kevin Bruce read multiple scripture passages and urged the county to treat "the stranger" with justice. Elaine (last name not given) cautioned that the county's America 250 celebrations should reckon with historical injustices rather than ignore them.

Several speakers also criticized how officials have handled development plans for a proposed data center in the region. Julie Tolliver of Batavia Township read a statement describing "secrecy over honesty," saying residents were repeatedly excluded from full briefings, small meeting rooms were used that left people outside in the cold, and public officials relied on attorneys rather than elected leaders to address the community. "Tell us what was actually going on," she said.

A county staff member who introduced the agenda later acknowledged the breadth of concerns raised during the public-comment period but no formal response or policy change was announced at the meeting. The board did not take a vote on rescinding the county's memorandum with ICE during the session.

What happens next: Commissioners did not announce a timeline for responding to the request to rescind the ICE agreement. Several speakers asked the board to hold town halls; one commenter said she brought copies of the U.S. Constitution for commissioners to review.