No Evidence Westerville Police Assisted ICE; Policy Context Explained

(WESTERVILLE) As of August 15, 2025, there is no confirmed public report that Westerville police assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a search for a missing detainee and then halted that cooperation. Local officials and recent records point instead to a steady policy landscape in Central Ohio: Westerville police are not part of a formal ICE partnership, and nearby agencies say they only work with ICE when a valid criminal warrant or court order is in hand.

Still, rumors about a “missing detainee” and possible ICE sweeps have stirred fear among immigrant families and prompted questions about who does what when federal agents call.

Regional context and initial reactions

Westerville sits on the edge of Franklin County, where ICE activity often draws attention from immigrant advocates and city leaders. In early 2025, anxiety rose across the Columbus area as chatter spread about stepped-up federal operations. Agencies pushed back.

• The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Division of Police said publicly that their policies had not changed and that they had not received new ICE requests.
• Those policies limit cooperation to cases tied to criminal investigations, not civil immigration matters.

What’s not in dispute is that ICE can operate on its own in the region and often does. Under federal law, the agency does not need local police to conduct civil arrests. That means a person can encounter ICE officers in their neighborhood, at a workplace, or during a targeted operation even if local agencies choose not to participate.

In this environment, any claim that Westerville police joined ICE to find a missing detainee, and later stopped, would be notable — but there is no verified evidence of such an event.

Policy backdrop in Central Ohio

A national database published by The Markup in April 2025 does not list Westerville as a participant in the federal 287(g) program, which deputizes local officers to enforce immigration law.

• Franklin County and Columbus policies (in place for years) say officers won’t hold someone simply because ICE asks.
• Those policies require a judge’s warrant or a court order to detain someone for immigration purposes.
• Local leaders frame this approach as a way to keep trust so that victims and witnesses feel safe reporting crimes.

ICE continues limited operations in and around Columbus, but agencies emphasize that local officers are not automatically involved when ICE runs an operation in Franklin County. That separation matters to families who fear a traffic stop could turn into an immigration check.

At the same time, families watch the Ohio Statehouse, where new rules could upend local choices.

If ICE asks for help today

Local agencies say cooperation decisions depend on the details of each request. Current practice in Central Ohio, according to public statements and policies, generally follows this path:

1. ICE contacts a local agency with a request tied to a specific person.
2. The agency reviews whether the request comes with a criminal warrant or court order.
3. If there’s a valid warrant or order, limited help—such as notification or assistance during a criminal arrest—may follow.
4. If it’s only a civil immigration request, the agency typically declines to detain or hold someone past their scheduled release time.
5. Officers do not act as immigration agents, and they don’t arrest someone solely for an alleged civil status issue.

This separation between criminal and civil matters is central to how Westerville police and neighboring agencies approach ICE requests. It also explains why claims about a “missing detainee” don’t match the record: if a person is missing from federal custody, that’s generally a federal matter unless a court authorizes a specific role for local police. No such case has been confirmed in Westerville.

Practical advice for families

• Carry valid identification when possible.
• Know your rights during police and federal encounters.
• If facing an ICE hold, ask a lawyer whether a warrant exists and what it authorizes.
• Contact community groups across Central Ohio for legal aid, hotlines, and “know your rights” materials.

Legislation that could change the rules

Ohio House Bill 26, introduced in January 2025, would change the current balance. If passed, the bill would:

• Require local police to report arrestees they suspect are unlawfully present to the Department of Homeland Security.
• Mandate detention for ICE pickup in certain cases.
• Prohibit local rules that block or limit work with ICE.
• Penalize noncompliant cities and counties by cutting 10% of state Local Government Funds.

Supporters say the measure would create uniform rules and boost public safety. Opponents — including immigrant advocates and some local officials — warn that mandatory participation would make communities less safe if people stop calling police when they need help. As of mid-August 2025, HB 26 is still pending.

Community leaders in Columbus have voiced concern about the climate of fear tied to rumors and possible federal shifts. Some note expected pressure from Washington on jurisdictions that limit cooperation. Others highlight the risk that crime reporting drops when families worry that any call to police could lead to immigration screening.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, regions that keep a clear line between local public safety work and civil immigration actions often report steadier community contact with police, especially among recent arrivals.

Local impacts and daily concerns

For people living in Westerville and nearby suburbs, the stakes are personal:

• A mother who saw ICE vehicles near a North Side grocery store may now worry about dropping her kids at school.
• A small business owner with mixed-status staff may fear that a routine stop could become an immigration check.

Current local policies aim to keep those fears in check by focusing on criminal issues and court orders, not civil status. But a new state law could narrow that space.

Federal contacts and resources

The ICE Columbus Field Office is a point of contact for federal matters:

• Address: 675 Brooksedge Blvd, Westerville, OH 43081
• Phone: (614) 469-2900

For official federal updates and contacts, visit ICE’s website at https://www.ice.gov. That site posts policy notices, field office information, and public statements on enforcement activity across the United States 🇺🇸.

Key takeaway: There is no verified report that Westerville police helped ICE search for a missing detainee and then pulled back. The broader story is about what local agencies do and don’t do when ICE calls — and how a pending state bill could reorder those choices.

Families, employers, and city leaders are watching both street-level reality and the slow grind of legislation, aware that a single vote in the Statehouse might reshape how Westerville police connect with ICE tomorrow.