DOJ Sues Franklin County Municipal Court Over Rule Banning Federal Immigration Arrests

• Rainbow_Rocks
• August 26, 2026
• Breaking News, Politics
• #ColumbusOhio, #DepartmentOfJustice, #FranklinCountyMunicipalCourt, #ImmigrationEnforcement, #IndependentJournalism, #RainbowRocks, #Rule210, LGBTQIA+
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Written and Photographed by Independent News Reporter — Kyle Williams — Rainbow Rocks — RainbowRocks.space — August 26th, 2026

Overview

• Action: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus, Ohio.
• Defendants: Franklin County Municipal Court, Administrative and Presiding Judge Jessica D’Varga, and Director of Security Enoch White.
• Core Issue: Challenging Local Rule 2.10, which restricts federal immigration agents from executing civil arrests on or near courthouse property without a judge-signed judicial warrant.

Key Details & Federal Arguments

• The Supremacy Clause Challenge: The DOJ argues that Rule 2.10 is an unconstitutional local attempt to regulate federal operations, violating the Supremacy Clause through intergovernmental immunity and federal preemption. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), federal officers are authorized to execute arrests using administrative warrants issued by the Department of Homeland Security or without a warrant under specific statutory conditions.
• Operational and Safety Concerns: Federal prosecutors contend that banning courthouse arrests runs counter to common sense and compromises safety. Because courthouses utilize enhanced security screenings, executing arrests inside or near the facility reduces physical danger to the public and officers, while minimizing flight risks compared to at-large field operations.
• Impact on ICE Operations: According to the complaint, the municipal court rule—enacted earlier this year—has brought civil immigration arrests at the facility to a halt. The DOJ asserts this forces agents to conduct riskier community-level operations that demand higher staffing, equipment, and resources.

Official Statements

• Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr.:“Today the Department sued yet another local entity that seeks to thwart the will of Congress by regulating when and where Federal law enforcement does its job, all in the name of protecting criminal aliens who violate our Nation’s laws. No more. This Department of Justice will not sit idly by while state and local government seek to undermine federal immigration enforcement.”
• Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate (Civil Division):“This type of rule obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates evasion of federal law by dangerous criminal aliens, despite Congress’s direction that federal agents detain and remove them. Throughout the country, and including in this courthouse specifically, federal agents have routinely and safely conducted arrests. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting that important federal prerogative.”

Broader Context

This legal challenge follows directives from Attorney General Todd Blanche instructing the Civil Division to target local policies nationwide that impede federal operations. Similar federal actions have been initiated in jurisdictions across New York, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.

The DOJ is seeking a federal court order declaring Rule 2.10 unlawful alongside a preliminary and permanent injunction to block its enforcement against federal law enforcement personnel.

Overview

• Action: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus, Ohio.
• Defendants: Franklin County Municipal Court, Administrative and Presiding Judge Jessica D’Varga, and Director of Security Enoch White.
• Core Issue: Challenging Local Rule 2.10, which restricts federal immigration agents from executing civil arrests on or near courthouse property without a judge-signed judicial warrant.

Key Details & Federal Arguments

• The Supremacy Clause Challenge: The DOJ argues that Rule 2.10 is an unconstitutional local attempt to regulate federal operations, violating the Supremacy Clause through intergovernmental immunity and federal preemption. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), federal officers are authorized to execute arrests using administrative warrants issued by the Department of Homeland Security or without a warrant under specific statutory conditions.
• Operational and Safety Concerns: Federal prosecutors contend that banning courthouse arrests runs counter to common sense and compromises safety. Because courthouses utilize enhanced security screenings, executing arrests inside or near the facility reduces physical danger to the public and officers, while minimizing flight risks compared to at-large field operations.
• Impact on ICE Operations: According to the complaint, the municipal court rule—enacted earlier this year—has brought civil immigration arrests at the facility to a halt. The DOJ asserts this forces agents to conduct riskier community-level operations that demand higher staffing, equipment, and resources.

Official Statements

• Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr.:“Today the Department sued yet another local entity that seeks to thwart the will of Congress by regulating when and where Federal law enforcement does its job, all in the name of protecting criminal aliens who violate our Nation’s laws. No more. This Department of Justice will not sit idly by while state and local government seek to undermine federal immigration enforcement.”
• Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate (Civil Division):“This type of rule obstructs federal law enforcement and facilitates evasion of federal law by dangerous criminal aliens, despite Congress’s direction that federal agents detain and remove them. Throughout the country, and including in this courthouse specifically, federal agents have routinely and safely conducted arrests. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting that important federal prerogative.”

Broader Context

This legal challenge follows directives from Attorney General Todd Blanche instructing the Civil Division to target local policies nationwide that impede federal operations. Similar federal actions have been initiated in jurisdictions across New York, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia.

The DOJ is seeking a federal court order declaring Rule 2.10 unlawful alongside a preliminary and permanent injunction to block its enforcement against federal law enforcement personnel.