Ohio Immigrant Hotline Reports 548 Incidents in First Year Amid Rising ICE Activity
February 26, 2026
A crisis hotline for Ohio immigrants has documented hundreds of urgent calls in its first year of operation, revealing widespread fears over deportations, arrests, and detainee mistreatment under the Trump administration’s intensified immigration enforcement.
The Ohio Immigrant Hotline, launched in January 2025 by the advocacy group Ohio Immigrant Alliance, has become a critical lifeline for families, lawyers, and community members seeking help amid crackdowns. A newly released report covering its first year shows 548 tracked incidents, ranging from emergency legal aid requests to harrowing accounts of detainee abuse.
Surge in Calls During ICE Raids
The hotline saw its highest call volumes during “Operation Buckeye”—a December 2025 ICE sweep in Columbus that led to over 200 arrests. That month alone, the hotline logged 94 incidents, more than double the usual monthly average.
“We get calls from people screaming for help, from families who don’t know where their loved ones were taken, and even from detainees begging for medical care,” said a spokesperson for the alliance. One man called from Butler County Jail, screaming in pain before the line went dead. Staff couldn’t reach him again.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones has denied allegations of inadequate medical care for ICE detainees, insisting all inmates receive prescriptions and treatment. Yet advocates say complaints persist.
Where Calls Are Coming From
- Central Ohio: 229 incidents (highest volume)
- Northeast Ohio: 123
- Southwest Ohio: 64
- Northwest/Southeast Ohio: Fewer than 30 combined
The hotline also fielded 73 reports of ICE arrests, including a heartbreaking case where a child was abandoned roadside after her father’s detention.
How the Hotline Helps
Beyond tracking ICE activity, the service has:
- Connected families with vetted immigration lawyers
- Deposited thousands of dollars into detainee commissary and phone accounts
- Fundraised for legal fees, medical bills, and post-deportation support
- Flagged Ramadan meal violations in detention centers to the ACLU
With monthly incidents jumping from 39 in 2025 to 96 in early 2026, the need shows no sign of slowing. “People are terrified,” the alliance said. “We’re often their last hope.”
Read the full report here.
— Reported by Nexio News
