According to multiple reports and internal jail records reviewed by advocates, the facility now holds over 1,000 people — nearly 250 more than its recommended capacity of 756. Several Ohio lawmakers and immigrant rights organizations have described the conditions as “unsafe” and “inhumane,” citing overcrowding, limited access to legal counsel, and a shortage of medical resources.
State Rep. Maria Hernández (D-Columbus) called the situation “a preventable crisis,” urging federal authorities to halt transfers to the facility until conditions are reviewed. “Our local jails were never built to handle hundreds of immigration detainees at once,” Hernández said. “These mass enforcement actions have real human consequences.”
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones, whose office oversees jail operations, defended the county’s cooperation with ICE. “We’re doing our job and following federal law,” Jones told reporters. “If the federal government sends detainees here, we’ll house them safely and securely — that’s our responsibility.”
ICE officials described Operation Buckeye as a “targeted enforcement action” aimed at locating individuals with deportation orders or criminal charges. The agency did not comment directly on the overcrowding concerns but said detainees are held “in facilities that meet or exceed national detention standards.”
Advocates, however, argue that the surge in detentions highlights systemic issues in the U.S. immigration system. “When hundreds of people are swept up at once, due process breaks down,” said Omar Khalif of the Columbus Immigrant Resource Alliance. “Families are separated, lawyers are overwhelmed, and jails fill beyond capacity — all without improving safety.”
As pressure mounts, several Ohio lawmakers are calling for an independent review of ICE contracts and local detention conditions. Meanwhile, immigrant support groups have launched emergency hotlines and legal clinics to assist those affected by the crackdown.