You Need to Know

Straight answers about Issue 14 — what proponents claim, and the facts behind the proposed ordinance.

Get the facts before you vote

What Proponents Claim — And the Truth

Issue 14 supporters make three promises about what the ordinance would do. Here is what they claim, and what the committee's research actually found — with the sources printed on our flyers, quoted as written.

What Proponents Claim

Ensure Equal Access to City Services

The ordinance ensures City services, benefits, programs and protections are not conditioned on immigration status unless required by law. Everyone should be able to seek emergency help, report a crime and access local government without unnecessary barriers.

Source: www.issue14voteeyes.org

The Truth

Policies Already Exist on This Matter

413.2 Policy

It is the policy of the Sylvania Police Division that all members make personal and professional commitments to equal enforcement of the law and equal service to the public. Confidence in this commitment will increase the effectiveness of this department in protecting and serving the entire community and recognizing the dignity of all people, regardless of their national origin or immigration status.

413.3 Victims and Witnesses

To encourage crime reporting and cooperation in the investigation of criminal activity, all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, must feel secure that contacting or being addressed by members of law enforcement will not automatically lead to immigration inquiry and/ or deportation. While it may be necessary to determine the identity of a victim or witness, members shall treat all individuals equally and not in any way that would violate the United States or Ohio constitutions.

What Proponents Claim

Follow the Law, Protect Local Priorities

Issue 14 does not stop federal immigration enforcement, block compliance with valid judicial warrants or court orders, or prevent cooperation on criminal investigations unrelated to federal civil immigration enforcement. It sets clear, responsible boundaries for City resources.

Source: www.issue14voteeyes.org

The Truth

Closely Mirrors Sanctuary City Legislation

When running an analysis on the wording of the Proposed Ordinance, the following holds true: (~90%+ Match): Sections 2 (Definitions of civil immigration detainers, administrative vs. judicial warrants), 4 (Restrictions on personnel and resources), 5 (Information sharing limits), 6 (Handling of detainers), and 16 (Severability) use verbatim or near-verbatim language derived straight from national advocacy Sanctuary City toolkits provide by groups such as: Immigrant Legal Resource Center, National Immigration Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigrant Justice Center.

Note: THE CITY COUNCIL ASKED THE COUNCILMAN WHO INITIATED THE LEGISLATION, AND THE COMMITTEE WHO IS PUSHING IT, TO NEGOTIATE A COMPROMISED LANGUAGE, THEY REFUSED.

WHY WERE THEY SO ADAMANT ON NOT CHANGING THE LANGUAGE?

Source: Processing the proposed legislation through Google Gemini with the prompt:Compare this ordinance to known sanctuary city legislation being proposed at a national level.

What Proponents Claim

Build a Safer Sylvania

Issue 14 supports effective policing, constitutional protections and stronger trust between residents and their City.

Source: www.issue14voteeyes.org

The Truth

We Already Have Effective Police Policies

The Sylvania Police Department already has effective policies in place that protect and serve our community and protect the constitutional rights of all.

Already a Safe & Diverse Community

The above point is demonstrated by the fact that not only is Sylvania already a safe community, but a DIVERSE community where residents and visitors live and work in harmony with one another. Issue 14 adds no value to this, it only creates potential issues for our police and city employees.

What the Ordinance Says, Section by Section

Read the actual text of the proposed ordinance sections being discussed — reproduced exactly as written — along with what each one means for Sylvania's police, city employees and residents. Then read the full ordinance yourself.

Section 4

Restrictions on City Personnel and Resources

Proposed Ordinance Says

(a) Use City resources to investigate, inquire into, or collect information about an individual's immigration status, citizenship, place of birth, or national origin except: (A) when required by federal or state law for the provision of a specific City service or benefit; or (B) when necessary for the investigation of criminal activity and there is reasonable suspicion that such information is directly relevant to that criminal investigation, and even then, such inquiry shall be as limited as possible.

What You Need to Know

Standard Police Interaction at a Routine Traffic Stop

During a routine traffic stop, the officer returns to their patrol car and enters the driver's name, date of birth, and driver's license number into their Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) or radios it into dispatch. This system AUTOMATICALLY initiates a multi-layered query, outside of the officer's control:

State DMV database: Checks license validity, suspensions, or localized priors.
State criminal network: Pulls up state warrants and local protection orders.
NCIC (Federal): Automatically queries federal files for missing persons, gangs, and active warrants.

If the system comes back with information that references the individual's immigration status, the police officer risks being in violation of Section 4, pending the information is civil or criminal in nature and upon further communication with ICE to verify the current status of potential warrants.

Read the full ordinance language

Section 6

Handling Civil Immigration Detainers

Proposed Ordinance Says

The Sylvania Police Division and any other City agency that operates or controls a detention facility shall not honor or comply with any civil immigration detainer, request to maintain custody, or request to provide advance notice of an individual's release that is based solely on alleged federal civil immigration violations, unless such request is accompanied by: (A) a judicial warrant or (B) a court order requiring such action. No person shall be detained by the City beyond the time they would otherwise be entitled to release from custody, solely or in part on the basis of a civil immigration detainer or other request from federal immigration authorities that is not supported by a judicial warrant or court order.

What You Need to Know

The Sylvania Police Department does not have a holding cell for long term detention of an individual. All detentions are done at the county level and are subject to the laws and procedures of the county.
Provisions addressing this already exist in the Sylvania Police Division Policy Manual:

413.7.1 Immigration Detainers

No individual should be held based solely on a federal immigration detainer under 8 CFR 287.7 unless the person has been charged with a federal crime or the detainer is accompanied by a warrant, affidavit of probable cause, or removal order. Notification to the federal authority issuing the detainer should be made prior to the release.

413.5 Arrest Notification to Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Generally, an officer should not notify federal immigration officials when booking arrestees at a jail facility. Any required notification will be handled according to jail operation procedures. No individual who is otherwise ready to be released should continue to be detained solely for the purpose of…

Read the full ordinance language

Section 8

Crime Victims, Witnesses, and Emergencies

Proposed Ordinance Says

The Sylvania Police Division shall not inquire into the immigration status of a crime victim, witness, or person reporting an emergency, unless: (A) required by law; or (B) there is reasonable suspicion that the information is directly relevant to the investigation of a specific criminal offense, and such inquiry is necessary and narrowly tailored.

What You Need to Know

413.2 Policy

It is the policy of the Sylvania Police Division that all members make personal and professional commitments to equal enforcement of the law and equal service to the public. Confidence in this commitment will increase the effectiveness of this department in protecting and serving the entire community and recognizing the dignity of all people, regardless of their national origin or immigration status.

413.3 Victims and Witnesses

To encourage crime reporting and cooperation in the investigation of criminal activity, all individuals, regardless of their immigration status, must feel secure that contacting or being addressed by members of law enforcement will not automatically lead to immigration inquiry and/ or deportation. While it may be necessary to determine the identity of a victim or witness, members shall treat all individuals equally and not in any way that would violate the United States or Ohio constitutions.

Read the full ordinance language

Section 12

Implementation and Training

Proposed Ordinance Says

Within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance, the Chief of Police shall incorporate this ordinance into the standard operating procedures of the Sylvania Police Division and shall provide periodic training and guidance to ensure continued compliance.

What You Need to Know

Breach of Collective Bargaining Rights:
If passed, the city would be making unilateral changes to the working conditions, job duties, or disciplinary standards without negotiating with the union, constituting an illegal bypass of collective bargaining. The Police union and the city employee's union could sue or file a labor board complaint for unfair labor practices.
Missing the Implementation Deadline
Once the Union files for the Breach of Collective Bargaining Rights, the courts would issue a Preliminary Injunction, making the 90 Day mandated Implementation and Training deadline immediately unnattainable.
Costly Legal Proceedings
Issue 14 claims to put safe guards on the proper use of city resources and finances, but the first thing it would do right out of the gate is cast the city into costly labor proceedings.

Read the full ordinance language

Get the Facts. Vote NO on Issue 14.

Voting Information About Issue 14