The Butler County Sheriff’s Office said it carried out the largest single immigration sweep in Ohio to date, arresting 39 immigrants identified as being in the United States illegally during an enforcement push centered on a Fairfield nightclub and follow-up traffic stops. The primary action took place late on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at the Sabor Peruano Night Club (7245 Dixie Highway) in Butler County, where 34 people were detained. Authorities said another 5 arrests came through separate traffic operations in the same period.
As of August 22, all but five remain in the Butler County Jail on immigration holds issued by federal authorities, while five also face state criminal charges.
Why the operation happened
The Sheriff’s Office said the operation was prompted by a surge in violence tied to the club and nearby areas, including two shootings reported in the last two months. Local and federal officers said they connected much of the recent criminal activity to people who are unlawfully present in Ohio.
The enforcement brought together multiple agencies in a coordinated plan:
– Butler County Sheriff’s Office
– Fairfield Police Department
– U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
– Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
– Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
This coordination combined a large onsite presence at the club with follow-up stops and detentions away from the scene.
Officials’ statements and rationale
Sheriff Richard K. Jones defended the scale and method of the raid:
“Many of these individuals have been here for years, living and working outside the law. Butler County will not be a sanctuary. We will continue to enforce the law, protect our citizens, and hold accountable those who break it.”
Fairfield police officials said they had asked the club’s ownership to address ongoing violence and safety issues but found those steps lacking, leading to a broader response with federal support. The Sheriff’s Office said it plans to keep working with ICE and other federal partners to “aggressively identify, detain, and remove individuals unlawfully present in this country.”
Processing, charges, and detention
- Those arrested without additional charges are being held at the county jail on ICE detainers while they await federal immigration proceedings.
- People with pending state criminal cases will go through the Ohio courts first before any possible transfer to federal custody.
- County officials warned detention could extend while cases move through both state and federal systems — a timeline advocacy groups criticize as too long and too hard on families.
Officials said people arrested during the nightclub raid and in traffic stops were:
1. Processed at the Butler County Jail.
2. Screened for state charges.
3. Placed on ICE holds when applicable, pending immigration proceedings.
Those with state cases will face arraignment and hearings in local courts before any transfer to federal custody. County officials expect more joint actions if violence around nightlife corridors continues.
The jail contract, costs, and capacity
Butler County’s jail operations remain closely tied to its long-running ICE detention contract. Key figures reported by the county:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Per-detainee daily payment | $68 per detainee per day |
| Transportation rate | $36 per hour |
| Facility capacity | 860 beds |
| ICE detainees in July 2025 | 384 detainees |
| Share facing non-immigration charges (July 2025) | Less than 8% |
Supporters of the contract argue it offsets jail costs and supports enforcement coordination. Opponents counter that the contract encourages wider arrests and longer stays that ripple through immigrant families and local businesses.
287(g) program and local authority
The county’s role has grown under the federal 287(g) program, which gives trained local officers certain immigration enforcement powers. As of June 2025:
– 10 Butler County deputies had ICE credentials after a four-week training.
– Sheriff Jones said he intends to credential more deputies.
Local leaders say this cross-designation helps deputies quickly check status, place detainers, and move cases into federal channels. Civil rights groups warn it can lead to profiling and undermine trust between law enforcement and immigrant neighborhoods.
Legal and community response
Butler County’s approach has sparked:
– Ongoing federal litigation over jail conditions for ICE detainees, with lawsuits alleging civil rights violations.
– Protests and public meetings led by advocacy groups such as Ignite Peace, calling for an end to the ICE contract and a reduction in local immigration enforcement.
Arguments on both sides:
– The Sheriff’s Office points out that less than 8% of July ICE detainees faced non-immigration charges, framing most holds as status-related rather than serious state offenses.
– Critics say prolonged detention for immigration issues alone places heavy burdens on families, employers, and communities.
The debate plays out in county boardrooms, community halls, courtrooms, and public fora as lawsuits and protests continue alongside stepped-up patrols and periodic raids.
Impact on the community
The Aug. 16 action highlights growing cooperation across levels of government and the tensions that cooperation creates.
Community impacts include:
– Families scrambling to learn where loved ones are held, what charges apply, and when hearings will occur.
– Worries among residents about the blurring of local policing and federal immigration work, potentially affecting trust and daily behaviors (e.g., reluctance to stop after minor traffic incidents).
– Local businesses and institutions (churches, schools, nonprofits) reporting increased questions about rights and safety after the raid.
– Local lawyers seeing spikes in calls about detention timelines and access to detainees.
Advocates are pushing for faster access to legal help and clearer information about detainees’ locations and court dates.
Next steps and promises
Sheriff Jones said the county will continue joint operations and detain those identified as unlawfully present:
“We are not going to slow down.”
The Sheriff’s Office signaled plans to:
– Expand the number of deputies with ICE authority under 287(g).
– Conduct more joint efforts if violence tied to nightlife locations continues.
That suggests Butler County’s role in immigration enforcement may grow, even as lawsuits over detention conditions proceed in federal court and protests continue.
Contact and resources
- Butler County Sheriff’s Office public phone line: (513) 785-1000
- ICE information and immigration detention resources: https://www.ice.gov
Officials said more updates will come through Sheriff’s Office news releases and Fairfield Police channels as state cases move forward and federal detainers are processed.
As the largest immigration enforcement action in Ohio to date, the August 16 operation places Butler County at the center of an ongoing statewide and national debate over local roles in federal immigration work. Sheriff Jones reiterated the county “will not be a sanctuary” and will keep using available tools, while advocacy groups pledge to continue pressing for alternatives through courts and public advocacy. For now, those taken from the nightclub and traffic stops remain in Butler County jail cells, awaiting the next steps that will determine whether they stay in Ohio or face removal from the country.
This Article in a Nutshell
Butler County’s Aug. 16 sweep detained 39 people, largely at a Fairfield nightclub, prompting ICE holds and state charges for some; the action accelerated use of 287(g) authority amid community protests and legal challenges.
