Residents of Dublin, Ohio, found themselves in the midst of a mysterious federal operation last Friday, December 19, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents conducted a traffic stop that resulted in a brief detention. The Dublin Police Department has now issued a statement clarifying their role—or more precisely, their lack of role—in the incident.
The local police force, notified not by HSI but rather by a community member, arrived at the site of the federal activity at the intersection of Hard Road and Emerald Parkway. According to the City of Dublin statement, Dublin Police were in the dark about the HSI operation until they were called to the scene by a witness. Upon arrival, local officers “observed the second individual being detained by HSI agents; however, to our knowledge, all parties were released.” The police emphasized that they took no part in the enforcement actions.
The city of Dublin has been swift to distance itself from federal immigration actions. Their statement asserts, “The City of Dublin does not conduct or direct federal immigration enforcement activities.” It goes on to reassure the public that local law enforcement’s primary concerns are “community safety, crime prevention and fostering trust with residents,” according to the City of Dublin…