Other than being the state's official tree, Buckeye refers to the Ohio State University’s mascot, a peanut butter and chocolate candy, a lake, a town and a trail, according to the state of Ohio website. However, the name has most recently been coined by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, launching “Operation Buckeye.”
On Dec. 16, ICE deployed officers throughout Ohio and in Columbus. ICE’s intentions include arresting “the worst of the worst from Ohio, with convictions including felony drug possession, assault, DUIs and more,” according to ICE’s website.
Columbus city leaders addressed the federal operation Dec. 18, according to a video from the City of Columbus’s YouTube channel.
“While some may say they’re here to make Columbus safer, the fact is, Columbus is already safe. We have not asked for and do not need this unwelcome intervention,” Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said in the address.
The mayor highlighted the decreasing crime rates of 2025, addressing the city as safer than it has been in years. Ginther fears trust between citizens and the city's first responders may be broken.
“We want people who urgently need help to seek it,” Ginther said. “People suffering from domestic violence or witnesses of crime or individuals in need of an ambulance might not call for help because of fear that this operation isn’t intended to inspire.”
The Ohio Immigrant Alliance released an analysis conducted by ICE during the detention raids in Columbus. According to the analysis, more than 214 people were arrested and are currently in Ohio and Michigan prisons.
“Citizens, legally-authorized immigrants and people with legal work permits and pending immigration cases are among those detained,” OIA said in the analysis. “Agents aren’t actually looking for specific people. They are racially profiling anyone they come across.”
During the Ohio State University career fair, held Jan. 20, three people were arrested for protesting the Border Patrol’s attendance. Two of the people were students, according to The Lantern, OSU’s student newspaper, protesting outside of the event at the Ohio Union.
The Ohio State University Student Association has made many statements through its social media and during protests opposing the arrests.
In an Instagram post, the association wrote, “ICE, DHS, CBP and any and all other institutions that uphold structural violence do not belong in an academic environment – this should be reinforced by administration and the student body alike.”
The Ohio State University declined to comment.
The Ohio University Student Association organized an “ICE Out Walk Out” in support of Minnesota on Friday, through a flier posted to its social media, according to a previous report from The Post.
Cami Jackson, President of OU OSA, said the walkout was a response to Minnesota’s call to action directed at the organization.
President Donald Trump’s Administration deployed 2,000 ICE officers and agents in Minnesota, according to The Associated Press, which led to the killing of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE officer Jan. 7.
Videos from bystanders show Renee Good in her car when an officer approached and asked her to get out of her car. According to the AP, the car begins to move forward, and in response, another officer in front of the car fires at least two shots, killing Good.
“A U.S. citizen born in Colorado, Good described herself on social media as a ‘poet and writer and wife and mom,’” AP said. “Her ex-husband said Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday and was driving home when she encountered ICE agents on a residential street.”
Jackson said the OSA organization reached out to their Athens chapter to stand in solidarity with Minnesota and launch a campaign for student safety.
The campaign launched Friday, where OSA encouraged attendees to sign a petition. The campaign includes demands necessary for OU President Lori Stewart Gonzalez to make and be delivered to her Feb. 6. According to Jackson, the petition will be available to sign online through their social media.
The petition has six demands, including that OU inform the public about its policy toward ICE through email or webpage.
Currently, any OU information about ICE is on the Immigration Information page on OU’s official website, which Jackson said does not apply to students who are not international but still get targeted by ICE.
“Immigration enforcement officers are required to have a criminal judicial warrant or search warrant (i.e., signed by a judge) to lawfully enter limited access areas on campus without consent, such as a residence hall room,“ the website said.
OU OSA’s petition also demands a public statement that ICE is not welcome on campus, the refusal of all data sharing with ICE that is not legally mandated, to treat ICE’s presence on campus as a critical emergency, deny ICE access to campus buildings and refuse to sign the 287(g) agreement.
“The overall reason for this campaign and walkout and rally is ultimately to protect OU students,” Jackson said. “That's why we're doing this right now, right here.”
