March 24, 2020 State of Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine State of Ohio, Department of Health State of Ohio, Minority Health Commission State of Ohio, Emergency Management Agency Ohio Supreme Court Butler County Sheriff’s Office Butler County Health Department Butler County Board of Commissioners Morrow County Sheriff’s Office Morrow County Health Department Morrow County Board of Commissioners Geauga County Sheriff’s Office Geauga County Health Department Geauga County Board of Commissioners Seneca County Sheriff’s Office Seneca County Health Department Seneca County Board of Commissioners To Whom It May Concern: We write out of deep concern for the health of our family members, friends, and clients currently incarcerated in Ohio’s prisons and jails. They include people in criminal and “civil” immigration custody. Medical doctors have been warning that the jail setting is a veritable Petri dish for infectious disease; proactive, sweeping measures are needed to keep COVID-19 out of our jails and slow its destructive path. Many people living together in close quarters, often in dirty conditions without decent medical care, is a recipe for rapidly spreading COVID-19. Outbreaks in prisons would be extremely difficult for Ohio’s already overtaxed medical community and government agencies to handle. We need to learn from the jail outbreaks of COVID-19 in China and Iran, and release as many incarcerated people as possible to avoid them in Ohio. The following steps must be taken immediately to contain this deadly disease and ensure the health and safety of all Ohioans, including those who are incarcerated: ● Immediately and dramatically reduce the number of people in Ohio jails and prisons, including those detained under civil immigration laws; ● Suspend deportations, immigration arrests, and in-person ICE and USCIS appointments; ● Close the Cleveland Immigration Court; and ● Ensure inmates have access to free soap, hand sanitizer, health care, and phone and video calls. These measures would protect our loved ones and jail and court employees, while reducing the risk of massive outbreaks of COVID-19 that would further tax our medical and government resources. For more information, please see the backgrounder following our signatures. Respectfully, Organizations - Statewide (14) ACLU of Ohio Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. Cameroon American Council Faith in Public Life Hunger Network in Ohio LULAC OHIO Ohio Immigrant Alliance Ohio Organizing Collaborative Ohio Refuse Fascism Ohio Student Association OPAWL: Building AAPI Feminist Leadership in Ohio Policy Matters Ohio Showing Up for Racial Justice Ohio Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio Organizations - Local (44) 3R Fund for Immigrants Newport, KY Akron Interfaith Immigration Advocates Akron Center for Peace through Understanding Sandusky Church of Our Saviour/La Iglesia de Nuestro Salvador Cincinnati Cincinnati AMOS Project Cincinnati Cleveland Jobs with Justice Cleveland Cleveland Peace Action Cleveland Heights Community Refugee & Immigration Services Columbus Cosmic Bobbins Cleveland Crooked River Action Cuyahoga Falls Crossin Law Office Columbus Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus Middleburg Heights DeEscalate Ohio Now, HeartbeatMovement Columbus Ed4All Columbus/Cincinnati/Dayton Fremont People for Peace Justice Fremont Glenmary Home Missioners Lakeside Park, KY Greater Cleveland Immigrant Support Network North Royalton HOLA Norwalk Immigrant Dignity Coalition Cincinnati International Institute of Akron Akron InterReligious Task Force On Central America & Colombia Cleveland Jewish Voice for Peace, Cleveland Cleveland Heights La Conexion Bowling Green La La Love Healthcare LLC Campbell Law Office of Nazly Mamedova Cincinnati Lorain Ohio Immigrant Rights Association Lorain Los Ninos de Corsos Fremont LSN Legal LLC Chagrin Falls Mercy Association Holland NW Ohio Network for Immigrant Rights NW Ohio Oberlin in Solidarity with El Salvador Oberlin, OH; Cabañas, El Salvador Ohio Immigrant Visitation Columbus People for Peace and Justice, Sandusky County Perrysburg Progressive Peace Coalition Columbus Reem For Ohio Perrysburg Sisters of Mercy Cincinnati Stop the Inhumanity at the Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition Cleveland Student Labor Action Coalition Oberlin The Pattakos Law Firm Fairlawn The Unitas Group Cleveland Heights Together and Free Houston, TX Transformations CDC Cincinnati Yes We Can Working Families Columbus Individuals (336) Alan Fortnoff Akron Alexis Stores Akron Ayten Yener Akron Bertan Devrim Akron David Guran Akron Grace Goodluck Akron Julie Burnett Akron Maggie Duff Akron NCMCDOWELL Akron Ryan K Akron Sandra Murray Akron Maico Cruz Cruz Amanda Rev. Haroldo Nunes Apple Creek Mary L. Sutphin Bay Village Laura Chambers-Kersh MD Beavercreek Lynn Buffington Beavercreek Roberta Farinet Beavercreek Melissa Svigelj Berea Shelley Mack Berea Windermere Renaissance Berkeley, California Brandy Jatta Blacklick Linda Lander Bowling Green Hannah Bremen Hispanos Brookpark Ann C McGill Brunswick Ilmer T Camas, WA Jessica Porcha Cambridge Anna Liebler Canton Lara Nochomovitz Chagrin Falls Lisa Kollins Chagrin Falls Jennifer Scull Chardon Aundrey PayneSr Charlotte, NC Daniel Sheehan Chicago Illinois Marcelo Vinces Chicago, IL Aimee Benson Cincinnati Allison Reynolds-Berry Cincinnati Any Westphal Cincinnati Ashley Clark Cincinnati Awa Harouna Cincinnati Betty Dirr Cincinnati Bonnie Neumeier Cincinnati Chloe Cincinnati Chloe Corkery Cincinnati Clare Cincinnati Dan Schneider Cincinnati Dominique Brown Cincinnati Doris Gottemoeller Cincinnati Emily Thobe Cincinnati Gary Gosnell Cincinnati Greer Aeschbury Cincinnati Henry Zorn Cincinnati Jack Delisio Cincinnati Jedd Cole Cincinnati John Calhoun Cincinnati Joyce Dicks Cincinnati Karen Orsary Cincinnati Katie Dawson Cincinnati Lisa Gregg Cincinnati Liz Gottmer Cincinnati Liz Wilson Cincinnati Margaret Efkeman Cincinnati Marjorie Helen Rudemiller Cincinnati Megan Iverson Cincinnati Megan Iverson Cincinnati Michael T Lasonczyk Cincinnati Mike Brown Cincinnati Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church Cincinnati Nancy Sullivan Cincinnati Robert Ehrsam Cincinnati Sister Judith Clemens, SNDdeN Cincinnati Sister Kathleen Hebbeler Cincinnati Sister Sally Duffy Cincinnati Sisters of Mercy Cincinnati Sisters of Mercy Cincinnati Sr. Carol Ann Wenning Cincinnati Tom Strunk Cincinnati Zach Fisher Cincinnati Anne Caruso Cleveland Antiggonus Sabulsky Cleveland Aparna Narendrula Cleveland Areege Hammad Cleveland Avery Martens Cleveland Bhinnata Piya Cleveland Catherine R. Donnelly Cleveland Celeste Johnson Cleveland Chrissy Stonebraker-Martinez Cleveland Claudia Longo Cleveland Corrylee Drozda Cleveland Dana Buehner Cleveland Desmond Weisenberg Cleveland Ele Ashcraft Cleveland Emilia Vignola Cleveland Gloria Tavera, PhD, MD Candidate Cleveland Indivisible cle Cleveland Isabel Johnston Cleveland Jenna Ebersbacher Cleveland Jenny DuHaime Cleveland Julie Burrell Cleveland Kathleen Moser Cleveland Katy Kostenko Cleveland Lauren Napoli Cleveland Lisa Cleveland Liz Cleveland MAAC Cleveland Madeline McKenna Cleveland Maggie Sheck Cleveland Malcolm Neale Cleveland Maritza Rojas Cleveland Martha Loughridge Cleveland Maya A. Ajtun Castillo Cleveland Megan Wilson-Reitz Cleveland Molly Nagin Cleveland NatB Cleveland Nina McLellan Cleveland Paula J. Kampf Cleveland Rachel Napolitano Cleveland Rev. Shelley Nelson-Bridger Cleveland Samantha Kelts Cleveland Sandra Albro Cleveland Sarah Horter Cleveland Sharie Renee Cleveland Sue Janssen Cleveland Susan Miller Cleveland Taylor Sordini-Cornwall Cleveland Timothy Farrell Cleveland Anne Hill Cleveland Heights Dale Winsberg Cleveland Heights Dr. Cleveland Heights Elana Baldwin Cleveland Heights Eve McPherson Cleveland Heights Fadeke Muraina Cleveland Heights Gail Larson Cleveland Heights Janet Kramer Cleveland Heights Joan Lederer MD Cleveland Heights Kahlil Seren Cleveland Heights Kathy Flora Cleveland Heights Laurel Simkoff Cleveland Heights Lynn Tramonte Cleveland Heights Marlene Goldheimer Cleveland Heights Matt Marshall Cleveland Heights Ms. Mary P Kelsey Cleveland Heights Rachel Rosen DeGolia Cleveland Heights Rafael de la Barrera Cleveland Heights Select... Cleveland Heights Shari Nacson, Northern Ohio Asylum Project Cleveland Heights Sharon Shumaker Cleveland Heights Sheila Keller Cleveland heights Sheryl Parks Cleveland Heights Steve Cagan Cleveland Heights Chaplain at Clyde St Mary Clyde Laura Vanessa Valbuena Rodriguez Colombia Anna Babel Columbus Brandy Hughes Columbus Carrie Vereide Columbus Charlene Brenner Columbus Danya Columbus Dr. Rosaire Ifedi Columbus Emily Brown Columbus Esmirna Rubi Cruz-Cruz Columbus Individual Columbus Jen Mankin Columbus Jessica O'Donnell Columbus Jillian Baker Columbus Katherine Carter Columbus Kellie NeylanOputa Columbus Kevin Vereide Columbus Kimberly Thesing Columbus Lydia Addair Columbus Maggie K Columbus Mara Christine Columbus Mary Louise Hawkins Columbus Michael Babcock Columbus Paula Matthews Columbus Red Migrante Ohio Columbus Sandra Hall Columbus Tekla Taylor-Lagway Columbus Tim Chavez Columbus Trinity Health Columbus Vahni Kurra Columbus Mary Glaser Covington, KY Kevin Zhao Cupertino, California Carol B Cuyahoga Falls Eleanor Speck Cuyahoga Falls Jaclyn Kurtz Cuyahoga Falls Julie Skala Cuyahoga Falls Kathryn A. Ress Cuyahoga Falls Stephanie Triffun Cuyahoga Falls Maggie Larche Daphne Danielle West Dayton Dr. Maureen OMeara Dayton Dr. Rachael A. Richter Dayton Jennie Valdez Dayton Joel R. Pruce Dayton Kathleen Kersh Dayton Maria Otero Dayton Maureen OMeara Dayton Sara French Dayton William Ross Dayton Lilia Palmer Dublin Mark Oliphant Edgerton Kathleen Slogar Euclid Raven Nyamwihura Euclid Stephanie Johnson Euclid Kimberly Mann Fairview Park Marcie Jones Farmington, MN Rebecca Wimberley Fort Walton Beach, FL Nancy Fort Worth, TX Josie Setzler Fremont Kay Mooney Fremont Marg Wolf Fremont Lauren Sithens GA Amy M. Crossin, Esq. Gahanna Marge Carnahan Galion Ms. Gallipolis Ms.Mary Beth Fitzpatrick Gallipolis Gloria Cruz Dominguez Galloway Caitlin Baker Garfield Heights Herrlinda Santiago Cruz Grove City Deborah Schlarb Hartville Francesca Phillis Highland Heights Jennifer Vasquez Holland Susan Haas Hopewell Christina Puntaseccs Huber Hights Diamond Daniel Kent Iris Meltzer Kent Ms Kathleen Baka Kirtland Adele Kelley Darlinf Lakewood Adrian Griffin Lakewood Adrian Marti Lakewood Daniel Ortiz Lakewood Gabrielle Smith Lakewood Holly K Gigante Lakewood Jessica Cline Lakewood Judy Wright Lakewood Matt Kuhns Lakewood Phillip Emerson Lakewood Virginia Rivera Lakewood Xan Schwartz Lakewood Paul Helbling Liberty Center individual Lithopolis Aditi Madhok Los Altos Maria Garcia Los Angeles, CA Meredith Cizlak Lufkin, Texas Sarah Tuttle MA DeAuna Mcintosh Marion Nancy Fortney Marion Vicki Brown Marion Alene Massachusetts Brian Touchette Massillon Valerie Medina Megan Bettelon Medway Mrs Mentor John Christine Milford Roman Catholic Church Mount St. Joseph Hope Forbes Needham, MA Jeff Richardson Newport, KY Brian Newberg North Canton Sr. Evelyn North Carolina Don M Bryant North Royalton individual Oberlin Jasper Perry-Anderson Oberlin Sarah Johnson Oberlin Steven Volk Oberlin Individual OH Gregory Thomas Ohio J Young Ohio Mckahan Ohio Ronnie Dewitt Ohio Brittany King Plain City Sabrina Caprioli Old Bridge, NJ Sisters of Mercy Oregon Donna Chi Orrville MIkhaila Fogel Oxford Patricia Denny Painesville Susan Blankenship Painesville Katelyn Andrews Pataskala Barbara Kaplan Peninsula Hilary Hall Pepper Pike Helen Bare Perrysburg Laurie Snyder Perrysburg Robert Clark-Phelps Perrysburg Joshanna McKahan Philo Andre Stores Pittsburgh, PA Alex Domico Port Orange, FL Individual Port Orange, FL Kathryn McKibben Portage Vit Portland, OR Susan Sheinfeld Quincy, MA Sarah Paulett Richfield michael tadsen Rock Creek Mr. Michael Tadsen Rock Creek Carolina Phillips Rocky River Amy Schlessman Sandusky Eilis McCulloh Seven Hills Ms. Lucy McKernan Seven Hills Judy Reid Shaker Heights Nicole Herbert-Hale Shaker Heights Roberta Herman Shaker Heights Sharon Silver Lake Kristina Smith Solon Dr. Patricia Kellner South Euclid Willows Family Resource Center Springdale Tracy Katz Steubenville Sara Koopman Stow Tina Nees Stow Mary Ann Mistovich Struthers Rosemary Hollen Struthers Heidemarie Erika Lohrmann Sylvania Sharon Havelak Sylvania Fr. Tony Gallagher Toledo Ramon Perez Toledo Rev. Dr. Bev Bingle Toledo Tana M. Schiewer Toledo Veralucia Mendoza Toledo Brittany Ford Toledo Jacob Lang Toledo Patricia L. Schnapp Toledo Sisters of St. Francis Toledo Sarah McCrea Twinsburg Cynthia Dotson Uniontown Liberal Activist Uniontown Dave Contento University Heights Katharine Beutner University Heights Cami Ross Valley View Marlene Tramonte Wadsworth Christine Rizkallah Warren Alptekin Aydogan Wooster Iemanja Brown Wooster Jason Ferrell Wooster Ruth Sewell Wooster Robin Gilbert Worthington Individual Youngstown Janae Youngstown Melissa Youngstown Stephanie Vagas Youngstown Brittany Caldwell Zanesville ATTACHMENT Backgrounder: Keep COVID-19 Out of Ohio Jails and Prisons Immediately and dramatically reduce the number of people in Ohio jails and prisons. Every agency that incarcerates people in Ohio should review its full list of cases, identify those who are already eligible for release, and allow them to go home immediately. This includes, but is not limited to, county and city governments and federal immigration agencies. Ohio and federal courts should also determine which inmates can be effectively released in the near future, and take steps to pave the way toward their release, as has begun to happen in Cuyahoga County and other places. Courts and arresting agencies should not add to the incarcerated population. Incarceration should be considered a last resort at every point in a criminal or immigration case. In immigration court, judges should offer alternatives to detention as a default, rather than high bonds, to avoid expanding the incarcerated population. Suspend deportations, immigration arrests, and in-person ICE and USCIS appointments. Reducing travel and social contact are primary ways to “flatten the curve” of this global pandemic. Deportations are travel and should be suspended immediately. ICE and Border Patrol arrests involve social contact and add to the jail population, which needs to be reduced, rather than expanded. In-person ICE and USCIS appointments also violate recommendations for social distancing. Some of these appointments can be effectively handled through phone or digital means. Others should be rescheduled after the pandemic is over. Close the Cleveland Immigration Court. The federal Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)’s Immigration Court in Cleveland should suspend operations, effective immediately. The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ); American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 511 (Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Professionals Union); and American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued a joint statement making this very demand: “Failing to take this action now will exacerbate a once in a century public health crisis.” On March 15, EOIR postponed all in-person master calendar hearings between March 16 and April 10. But individual hearings are still going forward, continuing to put the public and court staff at risk. The Seattle Immigration Court has already closed; Cleveland and others should follow. Bond hearings conducted remotely should continue until all immigrants are released. Ensure inmates have access to free soap, hand sanitizer, and phone and video calls. It goes without saying that soap and disinfectants should be in abundance at our jails and prisons at all times, including during a pandemic. Sadly, this is not the case. In some jails, bathroom soap dispensers are always empty. Inmates are forced to purchase their own soap, at exorbitant prices. Health care should also be a given, but costs and corners are cut all the time. Also, Ohio is no longer allowing inmates to receive visits from loved ones as a precautionary measure. Contact with loved ones is vital to mental health, and people in detention also have a constitutional right to speak with their lawyers. Hygiene supplies, health care, video and phone calls must be made free to inmates during the duration of this outbreak. Price-gouging commissary and phone and video services should not be allowed to take advantage of struggling families ever, especially during this national emergency.