Cirino Hosting Border Insecurity Forum

COLUMBUS - State Senator Jerry C. Cirino (R-Kirtland) will host a forum on border insecurity and its impact on Northeast Ohio communities.

The forum will be on Wednesday, March 27, at 10am at the Independence Civic Center, 6363 Selig Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44131, and hosted by the City of Independence.

The goal is to discuss the immigration crisis at the southern border and determine its impact on law enforcement, public safety and the justice system here in Ohio. In addition, the event will focus on what the state can do to deal with the continuing effects the border invasion is imposing upon communities around the nation.

"Our porous southern border is leading to tragic and terrifying repercussions on our entire country, including here in our communities," Cirino said. "We have been planning this forum for several weeks to provide an opportunity for state and local officials to learn from each other so we can address this dire situation ourselves."

Across the nation, local authorities have been increasingly grappling with the consequences of unfettered illegal immigration.

Adding to the urgency of this issue since this forum was announced, an illegal immigrant was charged with brutally killing a Georgia nursing student  found dead on February 22. Police have charged a Venezuelan man who entered the country illegally in 2022 and was previously charged in New York with endangering a child. On that same day, another illegal immigrant was arrested in connection with sexual assault on a minor in Virginia.

Those invited to this forum include mayors, police chiefs, county representatives, state law enforcement, and select prosecutors in the 18th Senate District. The keynote speaker is Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who will also join a roundtable discussion.
 
The Ohio Senate and Senator Cirino have long stood for securing our country's southern border. Cirino and State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) sponsored Senate Resolution 243, which urged the federal government to secure the border and protect our citizens. The resolution passed the Senate in the 134th General Assembly 22-8.

Cirino is also a co-sponsor of Senate Resolution 242, which urges Congress to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations. This resolution is currently in the Senate Community Revitalization Committee.

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