Ohio Republican Josh Williams proposes 10% funding cuts for sanctuary cities

An Ohio state lawmaker is seeking to penalize sanctuary cities and push law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities in President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams, a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives, is introducing the Protecting Ohio Communities Act, known as House Bill 26, which includes a 10 percent cut in state funds for areas deemed “sanctuary jurisdictions.”

“We’ve seen the mayors of Columbus and Cleveland openly say they’re going to defy this legislation within their city limits because we have local authority here in the state of Ohio,” Williams told Fox News Digital.

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An ICE agent monitors hundreds of asylum seekers being processed as they enter the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building on June 6, 2023, in New York. (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Under the Ohio Constitution, local authority gives municipalities “the power to exercise all the powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits local police, sanitary, and other similar regulations, which are not in conflict with the general laws.”

“If you want to have these sanctuary policies, we’re going to take the funds away from you,” he added.

Williams said he hoped the Trump administration would follow suit and apply “conditional funding to our states that refuse to cooperate and sometimes even obstruct our enforcement efforts.”

In the Midwest, one governor in particular has taken on Trump on immigration control: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Williams accused Pritzker of acting out of anger over Trump’s re-election, and he said it was important for states to support federal policies that Americans voted for.

“The majority of voters, by popular vote, elected Donald Trump, and he campaigned on the idea of ​​submitting to the largest immigration measure in our country’s history to deport the millions of illegal immigrants who crossed the border under the Biden administration. And we must support him at every level to make that happen,” Williams told Fox News Digital.

President Donald Trump and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have clashed over the White House’s crackdown on illegal immigration and crime in the Chicago area. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images; Talia Sprague/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Williams also criticized Pritzker and Democratic governors like him for “defying and obstructing federal enforcement efforts” in their states.

“Unfortunately, we have out-of-touch liberals who have the means to live in communities (where) they can avoid the chaos that their policies create,” Williams told Fox News Digital. “But the average working family in America can’t afford it.”

Williams, whose hometown is Toledo, cited his own experience living in a poor community and what it means to rely on law enforcement to ensure one’s safety and security.

“When I called 911, I expected law enforcement to respond,” he said. Williams added that law enforcement needs to be able to rely on local partners and know that their counterparts will not “leave them hanging” because they are working to enforce federal immigration policies.

Ohio’s Community Protection Act still has a long way to go before it becomes state law. The Ohio Legislature’s website says the bill was in House committee on October 16.

Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams is introducing legislation to crack down on sanctuary cities as he seeks to take the fight to the national level. (Josh Williams for the US Congress)

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Williams said he believes Ohio has become “the epicenter of national politics,” making it a crucial part of the Trump administration’s work to crack down on illegal immigration.

“We have a Buckeye in the White House,” Williams said, referring to Vice President JD Vance, an Ohio native who represented the state in the U.S. Senate before being named Trump’s running mate.

“I think you’re going to continue to see Ohio be a beacon of change here for the nation,” he added.

Vice President JD Vance speaks as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard looks on during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border March 5, 2025, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

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Williams is looking to take his fight against sanctuary cities beyond Ohio as he campaigns for Congress. The fight against illegal immigration is a major element of his campaign platform in the United States House of Representatives. Williams’ campaign website lists his priorities as defunding sanctuary cities and states, completing the border wall, deporting criminal illegal immigrants and supporting law enforcement’s immigration efforts.

“It is critical that we empower our courageous law enforcement officers to enforce the laws already on the books and give them the resources and authority they need to keep our nation safe,” Williams’ campaign website reads.