League of Women Voters Opposes ICE Detention Contract for Mahoning County
Public Statement
Date of Release or Mention:
Thursday, October 9, 2025
This below statement was read at the Mahoning County Commissioners during their 10-09-2025 public meeting.
The League of Women Voters of Greater Youngstown stand with the League of Women Voters of the US in supporting federal immigration law that provides an efficient, expeditious system for legal entry of immigrants into the United States. In transition to a reformed system, the League supports provisions for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status, and until such policies are implemented, we do not support deporting unauthorized immigrants who have no history of criminal activity. The League believes in due process for all people, including the right to a fair hearing, right to counsel, right of appeal and right to humane treatment.
Ohio Attorney General Yost stated in his recent opinion on civil detention that Ohio counties may, if they choose, contract with the federal government to house individuals under ICE custody. Two important aspects of this ruling are that the county commissioners must execute the contract and that doing so is voluntary.
We understand that detention centers do not have the power of the courts; they cannot weigh in on the many legal challenges arising from the federal government’s current draconian and inhumane policies on immigration. However, detention centers play a key role in enabling these policies. Without contracts to detain the many individuals now being caught up in the constantly changing rules of how the immigration system works, the process would lack the ability to detain these individuals so efficiently. Counties who cooperate with the federal government to house immigrants who have no history of criminal activity are willingly participating in a system that lacks humanity and due process.
We appreciate the extensive services that Mahoning County provides to residents and the important services provided by the Sheriff’s Department. Jail employees are valued members of our community; we have respect for the work that they do and hope that all detainees are treated with the respect that any of us deserve. We make this statement to express concern about the contract that is in place, not with the individuals who perform the work.
Our league encourages county commissioners to terminate any contracts that would have our county detain immigrants who have no history of criminal activity. We urge voters to contact Congressional representatives and ask that they take immediate action to pass common-sense, fair immigration policies that end the crisis at our border, stop the separation of families, and provide a path to citizenship. Locally, the power to change the situation at the Mahoning County Jail lies with commissioners.