2 Ohio Officers Sought ICE Checks on 30 Names at 3 Cincinnati Schools
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 14
2 Ohio Officers Sought ICE Checks on 30 Names at 3 Cincinnati Schools
5 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 14
Three Cincinnati schools turned away two Gratis, Ohio, officers on April 15 after they sought student information for ICE “wellness checks” and could not produce warrants or authorization papers.
School staff said the armed officers did not disclose they were acting for ICE, showed a list of about 30 names, and at Western Hills University High School got confirmation that two listed students were enrolled.
Gratis placed Tonina Lamanna and Jeff Baylor on leave while investigating why they operated roughly 50 miles outside their jurisdiction; Lamanna had previously been fired by another department in 2017 over alleged dishonesty and false documents.
ICE said it does not target schools for enforcement actions and described the effort as welfare checks tied to unaccompanied minors, part of a DHS initiative launched last November that it says concerns 450,000 children.
The episode deepened fear in Cincinnati’s Latino community, already rattled by earlier ICE arrests and deportations, with advocates warning that even attempted school-based checks can deter attendance, work and shopping.
What legal power do schools have to deny federal immigration requests for student information when no warrant is presented?
When federal partnerships deputize local police, what are the legal limits on their actions outside their home jurisdiction?
How can a federal 'child safety' initiative succeed if its methods create fear in the communities it aims to serve?
Jurisdictional Overreach: Gratis Police’s Unauthorized ICE Wellness Checks at Cincinnati Public Schools and the Fallout for Immigrant Families
Overview
On April 15, 2026, Gratis Police officers, including Officer Jeff Baylor and Chief Tonina Lamanna, made unauthorized visits to three Cincinnati Public Schools on behalf of ICE, targeting schools with many Hispanic and English-learning students. These actions, done without village approval or proper notification, led to both officers being placed on paid administrative leave and Baylor resigning soon after. The incident exposed failures in communication and understanding of jurisdiction, prompting the Gratis Police Department to suspend its 287(g) immigration program and Cincinnati Public Schools to strengthen staff training and security protocols to better protect students and families.