The Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit against an Ohio court regarding a new rule that blocks federal immigration arrests at or near the courthouse. The department accuses local officials of unlawfully interfering with federal enforcement and placing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in potentially riskier situations for making arrests.

The controversy involves a rule from Franklin County Municipal Court, which prohibits civil arrests at the courthouse unless officers possess a judicial warrant. The Department of Justice (DOJ) contends that this rule contradicts federal immigration law, which permits ICE agents to arrest under certain conditions using administrative warrants or even without a warrant.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division stated, “This type of rule obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates evasion of federal law by dangerous criminal aliens, despite Congress’s direction that federal agents detain and remove them.” He emphasized that federal agents have conducted arrests routinely and safely throughout the country, including in this specific courthouse. The DOJ remains committed to maintaining that federal prerogative.

This news follows the issuing of a U.S. Justice Department logo or seal, depicted at the Department’s headquarters, known as “Main Justice,” seen behind a podium in the briefing room before a recent news conference in Washington.

This is an ongoing story. Stay tuned for further developments.