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Hamilton County Sheriff: We will treat everyone the same

66 views · Published 6 February 2017 · 0:36 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2017 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - In light of the talk of Cincinnati becoming a sanctuary city and what that means for law enforcement, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil's office said "We treat everyone the same, regardless of nationality."

Neil's office says it's received countless requests asking for a stance on immigration.

His response: “People ask me whether I’m taking the conservative or liberal side and I tell them I’m taking the side of the law. I was elected Sheriff, and as sheriffs we don’t write the laws like legislators, we enforce the laws, whether federal, state or local.

I have no problem with immigrants; they are what this country was built on. My problem is with individuals who commit crimes. It makes no difference to me what the criminal’s nationality is, what the color of their skin is, or how they look in general. My focus is whether they committed a crime. We will treat everyone the same.

As Sheriff I took an oath to enforce the laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of Ohio. We don’t get to decide which laws we enforce and which we don’t. I have a responsibility to follow and enforce all laws and keep the public safe."

Included in the release is the department's policy: It is the policy of this Sheriff’s Office to enforce the laws of the State of Ohio and to treat Foreign Nationals in the same manner as U.S. Nationals except where required otherwise by Ohio or Federal law. The following information is a summary of the Consular Notification and Access for Foreign Nations and establishes the policy Sheriff’s personnel will follow when Foreign Nationals are arrested or detained, how they are processed and released, and when a Foreign National has died or suffered a serious injury or illness where the Sheriff’s Office is the investigating agency. Where the following information does not provide guidance in connection with an individual arrested or detained, the standard procedures to follow for that individual are those as would be applied for anyone arrested or detained whether or not they are a Foreign National.

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