Criminal justice in the United States is, by law, public. Police reports are public records, as are criminal charges and every step of a criminal court case, in both state and federal courts. But immigration court is an arm of the U.S. Justice Department, not the federal court system. So even though Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents can arrest people and order them held in jail for days on end, the system is administrative rather than criminal. The justice department decides how it is run and the information released, from court hearings to the handling of records. It releases almost zero information to the public. And that means people who go through the immigration court process have far less protections than those in criminal court — with far less public scrutiny. — Laura |
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Immigration court cases are shrouded in secrecy, experts say. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Associated Press file photo) |
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Immigration court: When gun-toting federal agents fan out across Northeast Ohio to arrest immigrants lacking permanent legal status, they do so mostly in secret fashion, with few avenues for the public to scrutinize their actions. Adam Ferrise reports it is an arm of the Justice Department, not the federal court system. Because of that, the department decides how it is run and the information released, from court hearings to the handling of records. Reverse discrimination: A white, heterosexual woman from Green is claiming reverse discrimination in a case that made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it made national headlines Wednesday. Adam Ferrise reports that Ames' lawsuit appears to have wide-ranging implications on discrimination cases in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Ramaswamy on teachers: Vivek Ramaswamy’s tactic of singling out teachers comes as President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk have moved to fire thousands of federal workers, who Trump has said need to be “held accountable.” Jeremy Pelzer reports that Ramaswamy, who initially co-chaired Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative (DOGE) before launching his gubernatorial campaign, hasn’t gone as far as Trump in vilifying teachers. He’s framed his plan as a way to reward the state’s best educators. Today in Ohio: Should Ohio schools have more hours of instruction in a year? Should they require a computer science class? We’re talking about bills in the state legislature that would mandate public school requirements. What about private schools? We’re asking on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast. |
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Intel: The opening of Intel’s $28 billion chip manufacturing plant in central Ohio was delayed, again. The semiconductor manufacturer originally estimated its first factory in New Albany would come online in 2025. Then it bumped the grand opening to 2027. Now, Anna Staver reports that Intel estimates operations will begin at the Ohio One campus somewhere between 2030 and 2031. Marijuana penalties: A recreational marijuana crackdown passed Wednesday by the Ohio Senate could revive, in part, criminal charges for personal users. Jake Zuckerman reports the new risks would be most pronounced for the roughly one in three Ohioans who rent and don’t own their homes. Across the board, the legislation enables new means for law enforcement to levy criminal charges and fines on Ohioans for simple possession or use of small quantities of marijuana. Medicaid requirements: Gov. Mike DeWine has submitted a proposal to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reinstate a work requirement for Medicaid expansion beneficiaries in the state. Olivia Mitchell reports that under the proposal, recipients would need to be at least 55 years old, employed, enrolled in school or job training, in a recovery program or have a physical or mental health illness. Electronic stalking: A bipartisan Ohio duo in the U.S. House of Representatives have reintroduced legislation that would prohibit use of personal tracking devices to track people without their consent. Sabrina Eaton reports the "Stop Electronic Stalking Act" sponsored by Akron Democrat Emilia Sykes and Columbus Republican Mike Carey is similar to Ohio legislation known as H.B 672 that was recently signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine. |
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DOGE protests: Protests took place at national parks across the country, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park, to demand the reinstatement of thousands of park workers who protesters say were wrongfully terminated by the Trump administration, Olivia Mitchell reports. Nearly 100 people stood in solidarity at the park’s visitor center park to support the abruptly fired rangers and employees. March temps: With March here, we might finally have one foot out of winter’s door, reports Megan Sims. Since record-keeping began in 1939 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland has averaged 5.7 days each March in which high temperatures climbed into the 50s. There has been an average of 3.8 days in March in which temperatures soared into the 60s. Planning director: Mayor Justin Bibb announced Friday that he’s picked a top staffer who has focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety to be Cleveland’s next planning director, Sean McDonnell reports. Calley Mersmann, Bibb’s senior strategist for transit and mobility since the mayor took office, is being recommended to the City Planning Commission for appointment to the director’s role. Boxing commission: Cleveland’s Boxing and Wrestling Commission — a seemingly defunct and mysterious institution that wasn’t serving its original purpose — might finally be dissolved more than 80 years after it was formed. Sean McDonnell reports the three-person commission was established in 1941, presumably to regulate amateur boxing and professional wrestling matches in Cleveland. But in the past decade it has seldom, if ever, had three active members. Today, it has none. East Cleveland: A Cuyahoga County judge Friday chose Sandra Morgan as the interim mayor of East Cleveland. Probate Judge Anthony Russo picked Morgan, 63, to replace suspended Mayor Brandon King, who faces corruption charges in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Ice jam: Yacht clubs, parks and other properties along the Grand River in Lake County were submerged Thursday as two large ice jams pushed water onto floodplains. The river through Fairport Harbor and into Painesville was clogged with heavy slabs of ice, giving its surface a jagged and even foreboding appearance. See John Pana’s video. Bike shop fire: A historic building that housed a popular bike shop in Peninsula was destroyed by fire early Friday morning. Eddy’s Bike Shop, which was set to open soon for the season, is “heartbroken” because of the fire, reports Lucas Daprile. The building on Main Street had been the recent home of Century Cycles before the business closed last year. RR superintendent: The Rocky River school board has chosen the district’s next superintendent, reports Cory Shaffer. The board announced Friday that it selected Adham Schirg, the current superintendent of Fairbanks Local Schools in the village of Milford Center. Harlan Diamond: Harlan Diamond, a prominent figure in Cleveland’s culinary and event planning community, has passed away at the age of 90, reports Peter Chakerian. West Side Market: Six new vendors moved their products into the West Side Market on Saturday, reports Paris Wolfe. Their three-month move into stands B-4 and B-5 is part of a pilot program between the market and the Cleveland Central Kitchen. High winds: High winds slammed into northern Ohio Friday, toppling a massive tree into a house in South Euclid and downing power lines, reports Olivia Mitchell. Best Life: This generation of adolescents sounds much more confident than Laura Johnston did at their age. |
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Clinic DEI: After President Donald Trump targeted diversity, equity and inclusion efforts nationwide, the Cleveland Clinic is stepping back from some of its efforts. Julie Washington reports the health system is without a chief of diversity and inclusion and said it has no immediate plans to fill the role. OSU DEI: Ohio State University closed two offices Friday devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion work to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump and a bill working through the state legislature, reports Laura Hancock. Clinic ranking: The Cleveland Clinic was ranked as the No. 2 hospital in the world for the seventh consecutive year, according to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025 list. Julie Washington reports the Clinic also ranked No. 2 on Newsweek’s list of the top U.S. hospitals, released Friday. |
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Murder conviction: An appeals court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a man who shot and killed his fiancée inside their Cleveland home. A Cuyahoga County jury last March found Tirrell Edwards, 43, guilty of murder, felonious assault and domestic violence in the death of Amanda Williams, reports David Gambino. Suspects arrested: Two men are in custody after police say they fatally shot a victim on Interstate 480 last month, Lucas Daprile reports. Michael Sanchez Roman, 30, and Michael Gabriel Alvarado, 21, were wanted in the killing of Johndiel Sanchez Rivera, 19, who was shot on I-480 near Bedford Heights. Fentanyl: Federal agents say a North Olmsted man and LaGrange woman supplied fentanyl-soaked papers to a group that worked with corrections officers to smuggle the drugs into Texas prisons, reports Adam Ferrise. Fugitive task force: A fugitive from West Virginia wanted on drug and weapons charges since 2023 was arrested Thursday in Akron by U.S. marshals, reports Olivia Mitchell. Dayshon Lewis, 24, was sought by authorities in Wood County, West Virginia, which is south of Marietta. |
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Fish fries: It’s almost Lent. Alex Darus and Paris Wolfe list more than 40 restaurants and bars in Greater Cleveland where you can satisfy your craving for a fish fry in 2025. Many offer other seafood options in addition to traditional fish fry fare. Classic CLE: There is one pizza pie in Cleveland that is, hands down, Peter Chakerian’s favorite in all The Land. It hits all the right notes – spicy, sweet, salty, sour/bitter and umami. That’s the Speck Pie at Il Rione in Gordon Square. Tattoo festival: There was a lot of skin being exposed despite Sunday’s frigid temperatures, but it was all thanks to the Cleveland Tattoo Arts Festival at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, Megan Sims reports. |
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Pint-sized pro! 10-Year-old Huck Kurinsky crushes it at first pro BMX event Read more Polaris BuildHER workshop brings girl power to construction trades Read more What’s next for Brook Park’s controversial Circle K proposal? Here’s where officials stand Read more Mayor addresses future Berea recreation center possibilities Read more Beachwood council to vote March 3 on $3-million purchase of 43 acres at Chagrin Highlands Read more |
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