Ohio judge says he relies on a hunch to call ICE when he suspects defendants are undocumented

Kim Bellware for the Washington Post reports that a Ohio trial court judge told several news outlets that he calls up Immigration and Customs Enforcement when he suspects that a defendant in his courtroom is undocumented. Judge Robert Ruehlman acknowledged he acts on a hunch when he calls ICE. He stated that he focuses on people who need interpreters or speak Spanish, have international connections, or are accused of serious drug crimes. The Judge’s comments trouble civil liberty and immigration advocates in Ohio. The Trump administration has focused on tougher immigration enforcement.

Judge Ruehlman has given several interviews confirming and defending his actions. “I don’t see where the outrage is,” Ruehlman said in a Friday interview with WLWT in Cincinnati. “Number one, they’re an illegal alien. They’re not supposed to be here, so they’re breaking the law. Number two, they’re in front of me for a felony. ”

Judge Ruehlman’s admissions came after Cincinnati TV station WCPO broke the news that ICE officials were entering the Hamilton County Courthouse to detain undocumented immigrants. 

Newsweek reports that Judge Ruehlman denies that his reliance on hunches and Spanish language use amounted to racial profiling 

Judge Ruehlman has been the subject of controversy in the past.  In 2016, the editorial board of the Cincinnati Enquirer said that it was time for voters to remove him from the bench:

“Hamilton County voters should take a closer look at one Common Pleas Court race this year: that of incumbent Judge Robert Ruehlman vs. challenger Darlene Rogers. The Enquirer editorial board doesn’t typically weigh in on judicial races, but we feel compelled to do so in this one.

Ruehlman has been in the news a lot this year, and not in a good way. His rulings have been strongly criticized by two higher courts, and now concerns have arisen about his criticism of alleged rape victims.”

KJ