The bill would specify that persons who are unlawfully present in the United States are not “privileged” from arrest. This bill has already passed the Ohio Senate (6/18/2025). It was introduced in the House (6/23/25), but has not yet been referred to a committee. More information in this OCJ article and this analysis.

What can you do now? 
Urge your state representative to say NO if this bill comes to the floor. 

Sample call script:
Hi. My name is __________, and I live [full address if leaving a message].
I’m calling to ask [elected official] to oppose SB 172. This bill would allow an arrest or detention to happen anywhere in Ohio under any circumstances, regardless of the law that extends a “privilege” from arrest in certain cases. Federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies or officers could arrest people, with or without a warrant, whether for an administrative, civil, or criminal reason.
There are very good reasons to allow “privilege” exceptions, especially in certain public spaces. For example, the court has a responsibility to ensure due process, which is hard to do when victims, witnesses, and defendants won’t come to the courthouse to testify and participate in cases because they fear arrest. Trial fairness is jeopardized, which hurts citizens as well as non-citizens.
As we have seen recently, undocumented people have good reason to fear showing up in court, since a number of them have been denied due process or have been mistakenly deported or sent to notorious prisons.
I urge [elected official] to say NO to SB 172.
Thanks for your consideration.