Sheriff, Lawmaker Urge Ohio To Pass Law Like Arizona's

Legal Immigrants Would Be Required To Show Papers

WLWT.com

updated 6:15 p.m. ET, Tues., April 27, 2010

HAMILTON, Ohio - WLWT.com

An area lawmaker and law enforcement official known for their tough stances on illegal immigration have asked Ohio officials for legislation similar to a controversial Arizona law.

Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones and state Rep. Courtney Combs sent letters Tuesday to Gov. Ted Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris and Speaker of the House Armond Budish urging them to develop and pass a law that mirrors Arizona's

Under the new law, legal immigrants would required to carry documents to prove their status and law enforcement officers would be required to check the legal status of anyone they suspect of being undocumented.

Arizona's law has drawn wide criticism, including from President Barack Obama, and is expected to face numerous legal challenges when it goes into effect this summer.

“Our federal government has failed us when it comes to securing the border and stopping the flow of thousands of illegals entering this country on a daily basis," Jones said. "If the federal government won’t do it, it is time that states take that responsibility upon themselves."

Jones and Combs, who have teamed up before to promote changes to immigration laws, hope to travel to Arizona to meet with Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the bill into law April 23, to discuss the legislation.

Butler County reached a $100,000 settlement last week with an illegal immigrant who was arrested at a construction site and later deported to Mexico.

Attorneys for illegal immigrant Luis Rodriguez, who was accused of providing false documentation, filed a federal lawsuit in 2008, saying Butler County sheriff's employees illegally questioned him.

The lawsuit also said the sheriff's office did not have authority to enforce federal civil immigration law.

Jones said he believes he has authority to enforce immigration law and that the county had a good chance of winning the lawsuit, but the sheriff said a loss could have affected other law enforcement efforts to make similar arrests.