Ohio lawmaker wants to create penalties for hospitals that don't cooperate with ICE
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recently introduced Ohio bill is seeking to strip hospitals of state grants and Medicaid funding if they refuse to let ICE agents inside their facilities.
House Bill 281, introduced by Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania) in May, would require any hospital receiving funding through state grants or Medicaid reimbursements to allow ICE agents entry to make an arrest pursuant to a lawful warrant, interview someone or collect evidence.
If a hospital denies an ICE agent entry, any funding from state grants would be revoked. Additionally, if the hospital is a Medicaid provider, the state Department of Medicaid would suspend its agreement with the establishment.
'HB 281 contains the changes necessary for Ohio to keep up with the increased illegal immigration we have seen in the past few years, and the current administration's attempts to curtail it using ICE and similar agencies,' Williams said at the bill's first hearing last week.
The legislation comes after President Donald Trump rescinded a policy in January that limited ICE's ability to make arrests at 'sensitive locations,' such as houses of worship, schools and hospitals.
Across the United States, ICE agents are already generally permitted to enter public areas of hospitals, such as waiting rooms. Health centers are also legally required to let agents enter private areas, including patient rooms, if they have the appropriate warrant. If hospitals interfere with such actions, they could face criminal charges.
The main change HB 281 would make to current law in Ohio is the proposed punishments hospitals could face, according to Gary Daniels, a legislative director with the American Civil Liberties Union.
He said the bill would benefit from some 'much needed' clarification, as if its intention is to ensure Ohio hospitals comply with ICE enforcement actions, it is 'unnecessary' since that is already required under federal law.
Williams said at the bill's first hearing that the legislation would help ensure Medicaid funds are used for those who 'follow the law' and pay for such services. He said the medical treatment of individuals who are in the country illegally causes a 'massive strain' on taxpayer dollars, citing data from the Congressional Budget Office, which found state and federal governments spent almost $27 billion on Medicaid services from 2017 to 2023 on those who are ineligible for the program due on their immigration status.
A study from the nonprofit research organization Kaiser Family Foundation stated the $27 billion represents less than 1% of overall Medicaid spending during that time period.
The legislation would also require each hospital in the state to adopt written policies establishing procedures to comply with the measure. The Ohio Nurses Association has come out against the bill, claiming lawmakers should focus on other crises state hospitals face regarding chronic understaffing and workplace violence, rather than 'weaponizing' the healthcare system.
'We need safe, well-established protocols to handle law enforcement – not chaotic, politically motivated mandates that turn care spaces into zones of surveillance and fear,' a spokesperson said. 'This legislation would cause real harm to patients and health professionals alike.'
HB 281 has been referred to the House's Public Safety Committee, where it awaits input from residents.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Faith leaders: We cannot be silent about what is happening in America
'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' These words, which fill a popular meme set against the profile of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., occupy our thoughts. We fear that day is arriving on American shores along with nothing short of an onslaught against our basic human rights. While the boldest headlines tell how people are literally snatched off the streets, are being disappeared to foreign prisons, news that often receives less attention reveals that our civil liberties are also being snatched up, one by one. In Selma, Alabama, a day after Bloody Sunday in 1965, a brutal assault by local law enforcement on nonviolent marchers, King spoke about the need to raise our voices: 'Deep down in our nonviolent creed is the conviction there are some things so dear, some things so precious, some things so eternally true, that they're worth dying for.' There are so very many precious things under attack in this American moment; consider the bronze bust of King that the president recently had removed from the Oval Office. Eerily reminiscent of that time 60 years ago, many of these attacks are being coordinated by those in charge of the purported enforcement of the law. As much as this is a time of existential concern, it is also a great — and we believe mandatory — opportunity to stand up for that which is right. But first, we must understand the severity of all that is wrong. To begin with, the very due process of law is under attack. We are witnessing expedited deportations — including those of children who are U.S. citizens — along with the intentional bypassing of immigration courts paired with limiting access to legal counsel. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are unlawfully detaining citizens, notably including California U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla. Chicago police officers have reportedly aided ICE officers, in violation of Chicago statute, a move that is prompting further investigation. Furthermore, ICE agents are widely wearing masks and refusing to identify themselves, a likely violation of our Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable search and seizure. Violations of habeas corpus aside — that's how this administration functions, it seems — the rule of law in general is under attack. The attacks on law firms and lawyers, even as Chicago's own Jenner & Block bravely resists, has nonetheless led to other firms with major offices in our city simply capitulating out of avarice or cowardice. Such 'comply in advance' legal actions line up in complicity with an administration that is disregarding court orders, threatening the impeachment of judges, and eroding the checks and balances of an independent judiciary. Our fundamental freedom of speech is also experiencing sustained assault. Travelers' social media feeds are subject to inspection at the border, and students coming the U.S. to study are having their feeds examined for ominous (and vague) 'indications of hostility.' Protesters in Los Angeles — who overwhelmingly were demonstrating peacefully — compelled the federal administration to deploy the National Guard against the advice of the governor and then mobilized the Marines to police citizens. Furthermore, there is a sustained effort to undermine the freedom of the press by targeting journalists, suing media outlets, pulling funding and even politicizing the White House press pool. LGBTQ+ rights are under assault, and Black and Latino communities — along with other minorities — are being further marginalized through sustained attacks on education inclusion, all in the land of 'e pluribus unum.' Given this state of affairs, it should not be surprising that objective measurements of freedom and democracy in the United States have eroded since January. Three months ago, the United States was added to the Civicus Monitor watchlist, which identifies countries that the global watchdog believes are experiencing a rapid decline in civic freedoms. We are not deluded: What we see is what is happening. And listing this doesn't capture the sheer violation of humanity: ripping babies away from their mothers, damaging trans kids by denying them access to medical care, and abetting food apartheid by working to eliminate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. That is why we cannot be silent. These things — human rights, civil liberties, basic human dignity — matter. In preparing this essay, we learned that King never precisely said: 'Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.' Although that was his message, his actual words are even more profound and challenging: 'A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true. 'So we're going to stand up amid horses. We're going to stand up right here in Alabama, amid the billy clubs. We're going to stand up right here in Alabama amid police dogs, if they have them. We're going to stand up amid tear gas! We're going to stand up amid anything they can muster up, letting the world know that we are determined to be free!' So should we stand up, amid ICE agents and Marines. Committed to nonviolence, dedicated to the proposition that we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves, we're going to stand up right here in Chicago, amid even billy clubs and dogs and tear gas. We are going to stand up amid anything they can muster, letting the world know we are determined to be free. Join us. Chicago faith leaders Rabbi Seth Limmer, the Rev. Otis Moss III, the Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain and the Rev. Michael Pfleger joined the Tribune's opinion section in summer 2022 for a series of columns on potential solutions to Chicago's chronic gun violence problem. The column continues on an occasional basis.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Shares Meme of ICE Alligators Outside Florida Prison
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Department of Homeland Security has shared an apparently AI-generated meme depicting alligators as ICE agents outside of a Florida detention center. "Alligator Alcatraz" is a new migrant detention center being developed on a remote airstrip in the Everglades. The facility aims to house up to 5,000 detainees and uses the area's natural isolation and wildlife as part of its security measures. "Coming soon!" DHS said in a post on X. Newsweek has contacted DHS for comment via email outside of normal office hours. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has shared an AI-generated meme depicting alligators as ICE agents outside of a Florida detention center. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has shared an AI-generated meme depicting alligators as ICE agents outside of a Florida detention center. DHS Why It Matters The remote facility is expected to cost Florida approximately $450 million annually to operate. The proposal comes as President Donald Trump's administration looks to conduct what it describes as the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Critics say that the center's remote location and rapid deployment raise ethical and legal questions about the treatment of migrants, transparency, and due process. Supporters say the project is a cost-efficient step to handle increased immigration enforcement. What To Know The image shared by DHS shows alligators wearing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) baseball caps outside the fences of the detention center. The meme and plans have sparked outrage from critics over inhumane conditions and concerns from environmental groups. "A horrendous lack of humanity," Georgetown lecturer Brett Bruen, who served as director of global engagement during the Obama administration, said in a post on X. Former CIA officer Christopher Burgess described the post as "Disgusting." The Florida Division of Emergency Management is set to build the facility, which is capable of housing up to 5,000 beds, according to DHS. In this image from undated video released by the Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier shows an isolated Everglades airfield about 45 miles (72 kms.) west of Miami that Florida officials said an immigration detention... In this image from undated video released by the Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier shows an isolated Everglades airfield about 45 miles (72 kms.) west of Miami that Florida officials said an immigration detention facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz" is just days away from being operational. More The Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier This capacity is intended to support Florida's expanded immigration enforcement efforts. The facility will detain individuals arrested by Florida law enforcement under the federal 287(g) program, as well as those transferred to Florida's custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The initial phase of the facility is expected to be operational within days, providing 500 to 1,000 beds, with plans to expand in 500-bed increments until reaching full capacity by early July. The site will use soft-sided temporary structures initially, with possible permanent buildings added later. Housing will include renovated FEMA trailers previously used for disaster response, intended to be a cost-effective solution. Managed by the State of Florida through the Division of Emergency Management, the facility benefits from the state's declared emergency on immigration, allowing rapid mobilization. National Guard personnel trained under the 287(g) program will assist in operations. The projected cost is approximately $245 per bed per day, totaling around $450 million for the first year. The state plans to seek federal reimbursement through FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, which have funds allocated for such efforts. The concept for "Alligator Alcatraz" originated with Governor Ron DeSantis's administration, utilizing his emergency powers authority to authorize a new detention site in the Everglades. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier first publicly outlined the plan during an appearance on Fox News. Environmental advocates and protesters at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, Fla., on Saturday, June 28, 2025, object to the "Alligator Alcatraz" being built at the facility. Environmental advocates and protesters at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport on Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, Fla., on Saturday, June 28, 2025, object to the "Alligator Alcatraz" being built at the facility. Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Protests were held outside the site Saturday, with environmental activists and Native American groups advocating for the protection of ancestral lands converging near the airstrip in the Florida Everglades. Hundreds lined U.S. Highway 41, also known as Tamiami Trail, as dump trucks delivered materials to the construction site. Passing cars honked in support while protesters waved signs calling for the preservation of the expansive Everglades preserve, home to several endangered species and Native tribes. The government fast-tracked the project under emergency powers from an executive order issued by DeSantis that addresses what he views as a crisis of illegal immigration. That order lets the state sidestep certain purchasing laws and is why construction has continued despite objections from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and local activists. What People Are Saying DeSantis said Wednesday: "Clearly, from a security perspective, if someone escapes, you know, there's a lot of alligators. No one's going anywhere." Bacardi Jackson, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida, said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "The name 'Alligator Alcatraz' reflects an intent to portray people fleeing hardship and trying to build a better life for themselves and their families as threats, which is both unnecessary and abusive." Renata Bozzetto, Deputy Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said in a statement shared with Newsweek: "The rush to open this inhumane camp in July, during scorching hot Florida summer, while disappearing members of our communities— moms, dads, grandmothers, children—in tents in a swamp with no adequate facilities to sustain them, is simply meant and engineered to enact suffering." Kristi Noem, secretary for homeland security, said in a statement on Wednesday: "Under President Trump's leadership, we are working at turbo speed to deliver cost-effective and innovative ways to deliver on the American people's mandate for mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens." What Happens Next The project could be finished within the next 30 to 60 days, according to Florida officials.
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Democrats wrestle with how to conduct oversight as Trump officials threaten, arrest and charge them
WASHINGTON — Just hours after she pleaded not guilty to federal charges brought by the Trump administration, Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey was surrounded by dozens of supportive Democratic colleagues in the halls of the Capitol. The case, they argued, strikes at the heart of congressional power. 'If they can break LaMonica, they can break the House of Representatives,' said New York Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Federal prosecutors allege that McIver interfered with law enforcement during a visit with two other House Democrats to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark. She calls the charges 'baseless.' It's far from the only clash between congressional Democrats and the Republican administration as officials ramp up deportations of immigrants around the country. Sen. Alex Padilla of California was forcibly removed by federal agents, wrestled to the ground and held while attempting to ask a question at a news conference of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At least six groups of House Democrats have recently been denied entry to ICE detention centers. In early June, federal agents entered the district office of Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and briefly detained a staffer. Congressional Republicans have largely criticized Democrats' behavior as inflammatory and inappropriate, and some have publicly supported the prosecution of McIver. Often in the dark about the Trump administration's moves, congressional Democrats are wrestling with how to perform their oversight duties at a time of roiling tensions with the White House and new restrictions on lawmakers visiting federal facilities. 'We have the authority to conduct oversight business, and clearly, House Republicans are not doing that oversight here,' said New Jersey Rep. Rob Menendez, one of the House Democrats who went with McIver to the Newark ICE facility. 'It's our obligation to continue to do it on-site at these detention facilities. And even if they don't want us to, we are going to continue to exert our right.' The prospect of facing charges for once routine oversight activity has alarmed many congressional Democrats who never expected to face criminal prosecution as elected officials. Lawmakers in both parties were also unnerved by the recent targeted shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers — one of them fatal — and the nation's tense political atmosphere. 'It's a moment that calls for personal courage of members of Congress,' said Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.). 'I wish that we had more physical protection. I think that's one of those harsh realities that members of Congress who are not in leadership recognize: that oftentimes, we do this job at our own peril, and we do it anyway.' The arrests and detentions of lawmakers have led some Democrats to take precautionary measures. Several have consulted with the House general counsel about their right to conduct oversight. Multiple lawmakers also sought personal legal counsel, while others have called for a review of congressional rules to provide greater protections. 'The Capitol Police are the security force for members of Congress. We need them to travel with us, to go to facilities and events that the president may have us arrested for,' said Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.). As the minority party in the House, Democrats lack the subpoena power to force the White House to provide information. That's a problem, they say, because the Trump administration is unusually secretive about its actions. 'There's not a lot of transparency. From day to day, oftentimes, we're learning about what's happening at the same time as the rest of the nation,' said Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.), who led a prayer for McIver at the Capitol rally. To amplify their concerns, Democrats have turned to public letters, confronted officials at congressional hearings and used digital and media outreach to try to create public pressure. 'We've been very successful when they come in before committees,' said Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), who added that she believed the public inquiries have '100%' resonated with voters. Congressional Democrats say they often rely on local lawmakers, business leaders and advocates to be their eyes and ears on the ground. A few Democrats say their best sources of information are across the political aisle, since Republicans typically have clearer lines of communication with the White House. 'I know who to call in Houston with the chamber. I think all of us do that,' Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) said of how business leaders are keeping her updated. Garcia said Democrats 'need to put more pressure' on leading figures in the agriculture, restaurant and hospitality sectors to take their concerns about the immigrant crackdown to President Trump's White House. 'They're the ones he'll listen to. They're the ones who can add the pressure. He's not going to listen to me, a Democrat who was an impeachment manager, who is on the bottom of his list, if I'm on it at all,' Garcia said. Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) had a working relationship with a for-profit ICE facility in his district until the Department of Homeland Security in February ended reports as part of an agency-wide policy change. A member of Crow's staff now regularly goes to the facility and waits, at times for hours, until staff at the Aurora facility respond to detailed questions posed by the office. Still, many House Democrats concede that they can conduct little of their desired oversight until they are back in the majority. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) said that 'real oversight power and muscle' only comes 'when you have a gavel.' 'Nothing else matters. No rousing oratory, no tours, no speeches, no social media or entertainment, none of that stuff,' Veasey said. 'Because the thing that keeps Trump up at night more than anything else is the idea he's going to lose this House and there'll be real oversight pressure applied to him.' Brown writes for the Associated Press.
