Rep. Rader Condemns ICE Raids in Northeast Ohio: This is a Shameful Attack on Our Community

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Tristan Rader (D-Lakewood) today issued a statement denouncing recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids conducted in and around Lakewood and western Cleveland, calling the actions “inhumane, destabilizing, and politically motivated.”

“ICE is tearing apart families, terrorizing neighborhoods, and targeting working people who are simply trying to build better lives. These raids are not about safety or justice, they are about fear and control. They have no place in a free society, and they have no place in Ohio,” said Rep. Rader.

According to community reports, agents carried out arrests at workplaces and residential buildings, often without clear warrants or notice. Constituents have contacted Rep. Rader’s office describing frightened children, missing family members, and a growing sense of panic in immigrant-heavy communities.

“When people are too afraid to report crimes, send their kids to school, or even go to the doctor, our entire community suffers,” continued Rep. Rader. “This is a betrayal of American values, and it is happening on our watch.”

Rep. Rader vowed to work alongside fellow legislators, advocacy organizations, and local officials to protect immigrant families and push for statewide measures that limit cooperation with ICE.

“Ohio should not be a pipeline for federal cruelty. We must fight back with legislation, with resistance, and with solidarity,” said Rep. Rader. “My office will always stand with our immigrant neighbors against this government overreach and xenophobic scapegoating.”

Rep. Rader encourages anyone affected by recent ICE activity to reach out to local legal support networks or contact their congressional representatives to urge federal action while their office is also considering legislative options.