Ohio’s Cleveland Heights — A local advocacy organization has requested assistance from City Council in the wake of two additional arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the Coventry area last week.
At Monday’s council meeting, the bulk of the 30 individuals who registered for public comment spoke on support of Cleveland Heights for Immigrant Rights, which is requesting up to $200,000 from the city for defense lawyers to oppose deportation proceedings.
There is currently no public defender program accessible for individuals detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and they have no entitlement to legal representation in federal immigration court.
Lynn Tramonte, executive director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance and a resident of Cleveland Heights, essentially asked council on Monday for that.
According to Tramonte and many other speakers, asylum applicants who appear in court with an attorney have a tenfold higher chance of winning their cases.
However, the typical cost of an asylum case is between $10,000 and $20,000, which Tramonte described as a “life or death” situation for refugees.
Tramonte warned that returning to a country that killed your family or tormented you could result in more unspeakable atrocities.
There is a lot on the line.
In light of this, Tramonte believes Cleveland Heights has a chance to set itself apart from other Ohio cities.
The only community offering what is essentially a deportation legal defense fund at the moment is Columbus.
Residents say they wish they could do more while out informing business owners of their rights following the ICE raid on Cilantro Taqueria on January 26 that resulted in the arrest of six men, Tramonte said.
But we are capable of doing this.
Tramonte said that although the immigrant population in Cleveland Heights is not very large, it has been growing.
Up to 15 cases might receive almost $13,000 each from the requested funding.
Establishing a prototype program and improving it from there is what Tramonte advises.
Davida Russell, vice president of the council, inquired as to whether Catholic Charities or Legal Aid still provide assistance.
According to Tramonte, neither agency is accepting any new cases because Cleveland is home to the state’s only federal immigration court.
There isn’t a waiting list either, though Legal Aid might change their mind in September.
Tramonte mentioned the Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), a Toledo-based nonprofit regional law practice that has been helping farmworkers and others for more than 50 years, when asked about public-private collaborations.
The Finance Committee’s chair, Councilwoman Gail Larson, stated that she would do what it took to review the proposal.
Tramonte was asked if there was any federal retaliation against localities that assist immigrants by Council President Tony Cuda.
According to Tramonte, the federal government is currently unable to keep a close eye on local responses.
The Finance Committee’s vice chair, Councilman Anthony Mattox Jr., praised the crowd for waiting for the council to begin its meeting an hour later so they could speak.
Mattox backed the plan as well, stating that we must speak for people who are unable to speak for themselves and that fear of (government) retaliation is not a valid excuse.
Russell also recommended that two immigrants present at the previous Committee-of-the-Whole meeting withhold their names because the sessions are recorded and may be watched by ICE officers.
Jeannine Gury asked the council to see past fictitious concerns of funding removal.
The first principle of an eight-point Bill of Rights for immigrants and refugees in Cleveland Heights will continue to be the only focus of the council for the time being.
These additional points consist of:
— Non-residents’ inclusion and protected status
Strict protection against arbitrary search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution
Coordination between the city and the community, including the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, with a purpose
— Removing the enforcement of less serious, non-violent offenses that immigration prosecutors may utilize as grounds for deportation
Jamie Hickner, a local citizen, pointed out that ICE has a $27 billion budget, but local police are not carrying out their duties.
— Demanding that law enforcement personnel, such as ICE agents, provide identification
Informing immigrants of Cleveland Heights’ protections, Hickner went on.
On Monday, locals said that ICE officials had not yet disclosed any more details regarding the two people who were arrested on August 14 at a Hampshire Road home.
Tom James, a resident, stated that this is not about some vague ideal. It’s past time to intervene because people’s lives are being destroyed.
According to Mia Brady, during the Trump administration, ICE arrests in Ohio have increased by 200 percent.
By leading by example, you have the ability to transform Cleveland Heights into a shining example for the rest of the nation.
See the Sun Press for further information.
