Sylvania council reviews ordinance limiting local role in immigration enforcement, schedules follow-up

Sylvania council members spent the committee session on Feb. 17 reviewing Ordinance 37-2026 — a local ordinance intended to limit city resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement. Chief Danny Miller and Law Director Leslie Bridal presented a section-by-section comparison showing most police practices already align with the ordinance, while Bridal cautioned about legal risks in specific provisions. "We do not enforce the civil," Miller said, describing the department's role in federal operations as limited to perimeter and traffic control.

Attorney and council member Doug Hingham disputed parts of the administration memo and argued the ordinance would formalize protections against using city resources for immigration enforcement. Hingham said the ordinance is "nothing more than" a measure to keep local resources focused on municipal services: "We're gonna fix roads... we're not going to get involved in immigration enforcement." Council members debated whether the ordinance changes employment conditions, how Ohio Revised Code Section 9.6 and federal law intersect, and whether some language could expose the city to funding risk or litigation. After roughly six resident public comments offering both support and opposition, council moved and seconded a request to continue the Committee of the Whole on March 2, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. for additional review and public input.