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Ohio Dem Gov Candidates Backs ICE Cooperation -- Haitian Pastor Detained in Springfield -- Pittsburgh DA May Press Charges Against ICE

Folks, 

Payday Launches Special Immigration Newsletter with Frontline Dignity 

Payday has launched, in collaboration with immigrant rights group Frontline Dignity, a special weekly newsletter on immigration in the Rust Belt, primarily focused on Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. 

This initiative is part of a growing effort by Payday Report to directly work with advocacy groups and unions to build independent media in news deserts. If your union or group is interested in getting involved, email me melk@paydayreport.com and fill out this form here.

Ohio Dem Gov Candidates Backs ICE Cooperation 

In Ohio, Democrat Amy Acton, who is leading polls in the race for Governor, upset many immigration activists when she called for the state of Ohio to cooperate with ICE. 

“We always work with the federal law enforcement, and we will do so – whatever it takes to keep Ohioans safe,” said Acton at a forum hosted by the  Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.

For more, check out WEWS

ICE Detains Beloved Haitian Pastor in Springfield, Ohio 

Meanwhile, in Springfield, Ohio, ICE has detained a beloved Haitian pastor Gilbert Joubert Adrien. 

“Pastor Joubert Adrien left Haiti because his life was in danger, served Christ and his congregation faithfully and his arrest shows how far ICE will stoop to incite panic among people who came here peacefully, came here legally and offered nothing but good to our community,” local Pastor Carl Ruby told the Springfield News-Sun. 

For more, check out Springfield News-Sun. 

Allegheny County DA to Make Decision on Prosecuting ICE for Death of Daphy Michel

In March, Haitian immigrant Daphy Michel was found dead of a heart attack after freezing to death at a bus stop in Pittsburgh. She had been released from ICE custody earlier in the week.

Despite suffering from a mental health crisis, ICE made no provisions to return her to her family. Instead, she wandered the streets of Pittsburgh and was found dead at a bus stop in freezing weather.

In June, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner ruled that her death was a homicide. Now, the Pittsburgh police have concluded their investigation, and the Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala announced that he would decide in the next week whether to pursue criminal charges against ICE.

Zappala chided ICE for not cooperating with his investigation.

“I’m not sure we received much cooperation from Homeland Security … but there has been a lot of work done by the Pittsburgh police,” Zappala said at a press conference last week.

For more, check out the Tribune Review. 

Slippery Rock Rejects ICE Cooperation

Finally, in rural Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, the city council passed a measure this week barring the city from cooperating with ICE.

The measure passed by a narrow margin of 4-3. The agreement is part of a growing trend of rural communities rejecting cooperation with ICE.

For more, check out the Butler Eagle. 

News & Headlines Elsewhere

For more labor and immigration news subscribe to Payday Report. 

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Mike Elk is an Emmy-nominated labor reporter. He founded Payday Report using his NLRB settlement from being illegally fired in the union drive at Politico in 2015. Email him at melk@paydayreport.com
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