In their first council reports as newly elected members, Joycelyn Dong and Maria Ramirez announced plans to introduce a formal resolution affirming Worthington's commitment to its immigrant community. The proposal comes in response to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity in Central Ohio since December 2025.
A Personal Connection
Council Member Dong began her first-ever report by acknowledging the historic nature of her election alongside Ramirez.
"I'm especially honored to serve as the first Asian American elected to Worthington City Council alongside Council Member Maria Ramirez, the first Latina elected to this body," Dong said. "Representation matters, not just symbolically, but in how policy is shaped, how voices are heard, and how trust is built within our community."
Dong shared her family's history, noting that her ancestors helped build railroads in California and experienced the lasting impacts of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
"I grew up hearing about the lasting impacts of the Chinese Exclusion Act on my family, stories of separation, fear, and exclusion. Now, in 2026, we are seeing other immigrant communities being targeted," she said. "It was not that long ago that people who looked like me were labeled as the primary threat... I intend to use that privilege of no longer being labeled as a direct threat to advocate for and stand alongside those in our community who are wrongly labeled."
Council Member Ramirez's Perspective
Ramirez, who is also a daughter of immigrants, shared her personal concerns about recent events.
"I am the mother of a boy who rides the bus every day and a mother who shops on Morse Road regularly. And my family has been in fear over the last few weeks because we know that it doesn't matter what your status is. Unfortunately, people are being targeted based on how they look," Ramirez said.
Ramirez noted that she had a reassuring conversation with Worthington Police Chief Stephen Mylett about the distinction between local police duties and ICE enforcement.
"I want to make sure that we spread the word clearly across our community to understand what we can expect from the people who are here to serve and protect," she added.
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What the Resolution Would Include
Dong and Ramirez, working with Council Member Glen Pratt, outlined several components of their proposal:
Formal Resolution: A statement affirming Worthington's commitment to standing with the immigrant community.
Police Policy Transparency: Clear communication about Worthington Police Department's policies and practices regarding immigration enforcement.
Accessible Communication: A clear, concise statement beyond the legal language of the resolution, potentially translated into Spanish, French, and Arabic.
Resource Sharing: Distribution of resources for immigrant families including legal support, food security assistance, and ways for community members to help.
Unanimous Council Support
All seven council members expressed support for the proposed resolution.
Council Member Rebecca Hermann, who works at a local nonprofit helping immigrant families, spoke to the fear in the community: "I know our clients are terrified and we're getting a lot of calls from people asking what to do. We've been trained at the office on what we expect to be visited by ICE at some time."
Council Member Pete Bucher stated, "I appreciate your putting yourselves out there and sharing your stories. I think this is hugely important to our community."
President Dorothy committed to bringing the resolution forward, noting that staff had already been sharing resources individually and supporting the idea of public communication.
Community Relations Commission May Play Role
Council Member Ramirez suggested the Community Relations Commission, on which she previously served, could help educate the community and maintain a web presence with relevant information.
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Supporting Local Immigrant-Owned Businesses
Dong concluded her report by encouraging residents to support immigrant-owned businesses in Worthington.
"They strengthen our local economy, enrich our community, and I encourage residents to support them," she said. "Please don't forget about our immigrant-owned businesses."
Editor's Note: While the City does not currently maintain a dedicated registry of immigrant-owned enterprises, please see the section at the bottom of this newsletter for finding such businesses
What's Next
City Manager Robyn Stewart indicated staff would work with Council Member Pratt on drafting the resolution for council consideration at the next meeting. A vote on the resolution is expected at the Monday, January 12, 2026 council meeting.
How to Find Immigrant-Owned Businesses
Residents looking to follow Council Member Dong's advice can find immigrant-owned businesses through several local and regional resources:
- Worthington Farmers Market: Many immigrant entrepreneurs start as vendors here before establishing brick-and-mortar locations in the city.
- Regional Directories: The Asian American Commerce Group and the Hispanic Chamber of Columbus maintain directories that include businesses in the northern Columbus and Worthington areas.
- Experience Columbus Guides: The regional tourism bureau publishes dedicated guides for Asian-owned, Latin-American owned, and Black-owned businesses that cover the greater Columbus area.
- Chamber of Commerce: The Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce offers a searchable member directory where residents can discover local service providers and restaurants.