A team of Kent State journalists made a trip out to Columbus in February 2017 to speak to members of the Somali community living within the city. Columbus is home to the second-largest Somali community in the United States, and Mayor Andrew Ginther has hinted at branding the city as a safe place for immigrants and refugees.

The following are stories from the community and local government.

—

Columbus Politicians Push For Sanctuary

Andrew Keiper

Senior Reporter

In the wake of presidential executive orders intended to stem the flow of immigrants into the United States, Ohio’s capital has become a hub of pragmatic resistance and enforced its status as a welcoming home to a growing immigrant community.

Columbus is experiencing a two-pronged push to make the city’s immigrant population protected with policy and included with culture. On one hand, Mayor Andrew Ginther passed executive orders to expand and reinforce Columbus’ immigration policies. On the other, the city is experiencing a groundswell of grassroots support to designate Columbus as a “sanctuary city.”

—

For the full reported piece, see “Immigrant Ohio.”