Latest news with #HouseBill1
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Green card holders barred from purchasing land in Ohio? What a proposed bill says
Green card holders may not be able to buy land in Ohio if a proposed bill gets passed. A bill proposed by Ohio lawmakers could prohibit some green card holders from certain countries from purchasing land across the state. The bill adheres to America First policy, Ohio state representative Angel King (R), one of the sponsors of the bill, told Newsweek. The existing green card holders who already have a property are can't purchase a new property within the bill's outlined 25-mile radius, King said. Introduced by Representatives King and Roy Klopfenstein, House Bill 1, seeks to limit who can be a land owner. "This is about protecting our obligation to keep our power stations, water treatment plants, and gas lines safe from surveillance and espionage," King said. The aim is to save Ohio land from foreign citizens especially from countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria within 25 miles of "critical infrastructure". The bill exempts American citizens or those with dual citizenship from the ban. Under the bill, the list of land that would fall under 'protected property' is long. It includes any railroad property, a dam operating by the state or federal government, and trucking terminals. The bill also includes airports, military bases and farmland. County sheriffs would be responsible for enforcing the new restrictions. If the legislation passes, individuals subject to the prohibition would be required to sell restricted property within two years. Similar laws exist in Florida and Texas but they also faced lawsuits and national debate. "The bill is part of a broader national push to address concerns about foreign land ownership tied to national security. However, as currently written, the legislation would create sweeping limitations that affect far more than high-risk transactions, including everyday residential purchases," Ohio Realtors said. List of nationals who can't buy land in Ohio if the bill is passed China Russia Iran North Korea Cuba Venezuela Syria Ohio's secretary of state would have to update the list every six months, the proposed bill said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Asian Americans push back against 'racist' Ohio property bills
[Source] Asian American advocates rallied at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday to denounce proposed legislation they describe as discriminatory targeting of immigrants disguised as national security measures. About the bills State legislators are weighing House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, both known as the Ohio Property Protection Act, which would bar foreign nationals and businesses from countries designated as 'foreign adversaries' from buying property within 25 miles of critical infrastructure sites. The legislation would expand existing farmland restrictions to include military bases, airports, power stations, water treatment facilities, railroads and telecommunications infrastructure — coverage so broad it would 'effectively blanket the entirety of the state of Ohio,' according to Senate sponsor Terry Johnson (R-McDermott). The U.S. currently designates China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro as foreign adversaries. While House Bill 1 would not apply retroactively to existing property owners, Senate Bill 88 originally required current owners to sell their property within two years, though that forced-sale provision was removed at Tuesday's committee hearing. Trending on NextShark: What critics are saying Opponents of the bill reportedly filled the committee hearing room, with more than 100 people attending in person and over 230 submitting written testimony. 'This bill is racist,' said Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), a first-generation immigrant from India, arguing it 'does nothing to protect Ohioans or improve Ohio.' Vincent Wang, who chairs the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, told 10 WBNS that the bills 'will push immigrants out and cause fear, hatred and destroy the Ohio economy.' Critics say the legislation violates constitutional protections, and that existing federal laws already address legitimate security threats without resorting to racial profiling. 'Allowing someone to rent indefinitely but not own is legally inconsistent,' Hongmei Li of the Ohio Chinese American Council told WTVG, calling it an attempt to 'codify racial profiling in law.' Trending on NextShark: The big picture The bills, parallel to others advancing across the country, stem from Gov. Mike DeWine's 2023 veto of similar legislation over concerns about 'unintended economic development consequences.' Asian immigrant-owned businesses in Ohio employed 97,600 people with an annual payroll of $3.3 billion in 2022, according to census data. Understandably, opponents have drawn parallels to historic discrimination, including Chinese exclusion laws and Japanese incarceration camps during World War II. A comparable Florida bill with a smaller 10-mile restriction zone is currently under federal constitutional challenge, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) promising swift litigation if Ohio's version passes. Trending on NextShark: Lawmakers have yet to schedule votes on either chamber's version of the legislation. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds push back against bill prohibiting foreign nationals from buying property in Ohio
Hongmei Li speaking at a press conference in opposition to SB 88. (Photo by Nick Evans, Ohio Capital Journal) An Ohio Senate committee heard from opponents Tuesday of a measure placing restrictions on foreign ownership of land. The sponsors argue keeping foreign governments — particularly China — at least 25 miles from military installations and critical infrastructure is a matter of national security. But opponents contend the bill casts too broad a net, wrapping in ordinary people who have visas or are working their way through the immigration process. They add the bill violates several constitutional and statutory provisions. More to the point, they argue it would codify racism and xenophobia. The proposal finds its roots in a measure proposed during the last general assembly which found its way into the last state operating budget. Gov. Mike DeWine left a prohibition on foreign ownership of farmland to remain in place that budget cycle, but he vetoed the provision restricting ownership within 25 miles of military bases. 'Restricting ownership of Ohio farmland protects Ohio's rich agricultural tradition from adverse interests,' DeWine said in his veto message. 'However, including other non-agricultural real property in this provision could have unintended economic development consequences.' The sponsors of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88 are taking another crack at that idea, and they've expanded their scope to include 'critical infrastructure' like power, water, and transportation facilities. The list is broad enough, Sen. Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, acknowledged, to 'effectively blanket the entirety of the state of Ohio.' Under the bills, the Ohio Secretary of State would develop a list of entities barred from owning property in the state and update it at least every six months. For countries identified as 'foreign adversaries,' their government, citizens, and businesses would face ownership restrictions automatically. 'I introduced this bill,' Johnson said, 'because I strongly believe that Ohio's land should not be for sale to those who seek to destroy the American way of life.' He added that while his bill is very similar to the Ohio House version, he takes 'a hardline stance' against existing owners. Senate Bill 88 wouldn't just prohibit purchases in the future, it would require any current owners subject to the restrictions to sell their land within two years. But at the beginning of Tuesday's hearing, the committee adopted an amendment eliminating the forced-sale provisions in the bill. At a press conference Tuesday morning, state lawmakers and grassroots organizers criticized the legislation as 'a symbol for hate' and 'legalized discrimination.' 'These bills represent a step backwards into the darker history of racism in America, rather than progress toward justice and inclusion,' Hongmei Li from the Ohio Chinese American Council argued. She said the proposal hearkens back to legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act, which restricted immigration and naturalization, and the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Li added the measure seems to violate the Fifth Amendment and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE What's more, she argued, 'there are multiple existing federal laws that already address legitimate threats without resorting to racial profiling and discrimination.' At Tuesday's committee hearing, more than 100 opponents showed up in person, filling the seats, lining the walls two rows deep, and spilling into the hallway. The committee had to organize an overflow room to accommodate the spectators. More than 230 people submitted testimony against the bill. Xu Lu, a college professor from Findlay and a U.S. citizen, acknowledged the bill would not target him directly, but he wanted to testify against it because it is 'simply a wrong bill.' He insisted the measure is unethical. 'Imagine somebody who risked their life, escaped North Korea and ended up in Ohio,' he offered. 'This bill will tell them they do not belong here.' Caixia Jin is also a U.S. citizen and explained she works for an automotive company assisting foreign workers through the visa and green card process. 'They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with American citizens,' Jin said. 'Many of them are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants themselves as well.' ACLU Chief Lobbyist Gary Daniels emphasized that a less restrictive law in Florida has already been placed on hold, and promised lawsuits would be filed quickly if lawmakers pass the bill. But he argued lawmakers shouldn't reject the proposal over litigation, they should abandon it 'because it is fundamentally wrong, it is profoundly unfair, and it is fueled by racial animus.' Daniels described reading hundreds of bills and attending thousands of hours of committee hearings. 'I struggle to come up with a bill that has so much hostility against race and nationality as this particular bill — not even close,' he said. Fourteen-year-old Melody Miao is an Oxford resident, and she'll be a junior in high school this fall. 'Ohio is the only place I've ever called home,' she told the committee. 'I grew up here, went to school here, learned the Pledge of Allegiance by heart, memorized the Bill of Rights, and watched fireworks every July 4,' Miao said. 'Still, I've lived my entire life, fearing that no matter how much I loved my country, I wasn't American enough.' 'I can't help but wonder,' she said, 'how are we so blind to the foundations of our nation crumbling right beneath our feet?' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
The Star
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
The Ohio legislation that could force Chinese scientists to sell their US homes
Xiang Zhang, a professor of genomics at the University of Cincinnati, drove more than 1,000 miles over two days to oppose a proposed law that would force him to sell his home, even though he is a US permanent resident. 'I never thought that one day, I would have to stand here in front of you to defend myself solely because of my nationality,' he told a packed hearing room in the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday morning, after cutting short a trip to make it back and give his testimony. 'I never thought that one day, I would lose my house in Ohio solely because of my nationality.' Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Zhang – who arrived in the US in 1998 with just a suitcase and a US$100 bill, and now leads a major research facility that supports hundreds of life scientists across the country – told Public Safety Committee lawmakers that he had been living his American dream. The midwestern state is following in the footsteps of Florida and Texas by proposing legislation to ban non-citizens from 'foreign adversary' countries – such as China, Iran, and Russia – from owning land within 25 miles (40km) of critical infrastructure. House Bill 1, which is supposed to address national security concerns like espionage and cyberattacks, would apply even to green card holders like Zhang. Under SB 88, a related Senate bill, he would be required to sell his house within two years. Ohio Realtors, the state's largest professional trade association, said House Bill 1 would be likely to become 'the most restrictive law of its kind in the entire nation'. Unlike similar laws, Ohio's bill covers nearly all real estate in the state and makes no exceptions for legal residents. In testimony, the association warned that the bill's broad definition of critical infrastructure – which includes electric generation plants, water treatment facilities, and telecommunication systems – would make nearly all property in Ohio off-limits to affected immigrants. The association also noted that the bill could face legal challenges for potentially violating federal laws, including the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution. It would also hinder Ohio's universities from 'attracting the best talent from across the globe'. About 100 people attended the hearing, making it one of the most well-attended in recent years, a Statehouse employee said. The crowd was so large that some had to move to an overflow room to watch a live stream of the event. Many in the room were US citizens who would not be directly affected by the bill. They said they came to speak out against what they viewed as a discriminatory law. Among those who testified was Anquan Wang, a senior aerospace engineer at GE Aerospace in Cincinnati. With decades of experience in the aviation industry, Wang said that he had had first-hand encounters with overseas attempts to steal US technologies. 'We need to counter real foreign adversaries. We need to be laser-focused, because the threat is real,' he said. 'But targeting ordinary people who came here legally to study and work is out of focus. Depriving them of constitutional rights to acquire properties is completely wrong and has nothing to do with national security.' Wang said the bill made him feel discriminated against, as it targeted individuals based on national origin – something no one could choose. By casting all citizens from certain countries as potential threats, the law promoted fear and prejudice, he added. 'House Bill 1 is about racial profiling and fear mongering. If this isn't racial profiling, I don't know what racial profiling is. If this isn't fear mongering, I don't know what fear mongering is.' Wang added that his colleague and neighbour Dr Li, a China-born US citizen and senior military aircraft engineer, was already considering leaving Ohio because of the bill. 'Dr Li has worked on military aircraft engine programmes for more than 20 years,' he said. 'When experienced people like him start to leave, it's a great loss to our company. Twenty years of experience in our industry is worth tens of millions of dollars. It also hurts our defence programmes.' I've always believed in passing on my knowledge and skills to the next generation of scientists here in the US, because science, at its heart, is about building something greater than ourselves Wing Keung Chan, a biomedical researcher at The Ohio State University in Columbus, said he had noticed a steady decline in the number of China-born scientists around him over the past couple of years. The bill would only accelerate that trend, he said. Chan, who came to the US in 2008 after completing his PhD at the University of Hong Kong, said he came to pursue his American dream and now worked alongside both Americans and immigrant colleagues on diseases that affected everybody. His efforts included supporting clinical trials, mentoring students, and collaborating across institutions. 'I've always believed in passing on my knowledge and skills to the next generation of scientists here in the US, because science, at its heart, is about building something greater than ourselves,' he said. Citing data from Science and other leading journals, Chan noted that China-born researchers made up a significant portion of the US medical and STEM workforce, contributing heavily to research, healthcare, and higher education. But growing suspicion towards scientists of Chinese descent had already taken a toll, he said. Nearly 20,000 left the US between 2010 and 2021, including more than 1,000 life scientists who departed in 2021 alone. 'Legislation like House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88 does not protect our future – it jeopardises it,' Chan said. 'It risks turning away the very people who help make Ohio a leader in research, innovation, and healthcare.' Following the hearing, committee chairwoman Cindy Abrams reportedly announced the bill would be amended before advancing further. One possible change would exempt green card holders, but many attendees said that would not go far enough. Xin Yuan, a green card holder and vice-president at JPMorgan Chase & Co in Columbus, warned that if the bill passed, it would send a message to the rest of the country and encourage other states to adopt similar legislation. Yuan testified that her greatest concern was for her young son, who was born in Ohio and considered it home. 'My biggest fear when I had him was how to protect him,' she said. 'If we don't even have the basic right to have a home, what am I supposed to tell him – and how can I protect him?' More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would ban certain people from buying land in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A bill at the Ohio Statehouse has some worried about their livelihoods in Ohio, but others say it is a matter of national security. Xin Yuan has been in the states for 14 years and got her green card after 10 years of living here. She said she has lived in four states — but only Ohio has felt like home. Now, she said House Bill 1 puts it all at risk. 'Under this bill, I could lose my home,' Yuan said. 'While I'm here legally, I would be labeled as a foreign adversary. This is deeply dehumanizing.' The bill would ban anyone who is not a United States citizen, and from a country that is a foreign adversary, from buying land within 25 miles of 'protected property.' 'I think there's logic to it,' Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. Under Ohio law, the list of land that would fall under 'protected property' is long. It includes any railroad property, a dam operating by the state or federal government, and trucking terminals. The bill also includes airports, military bases and farmland. 'There might be some countries that you might be a little worried having nationals from that country owning property in the United States, particularly real estate in the state of Ohio,' Gov. Mike DeWine said. 'So, we'll see.' The list of foreign adversaries to the United States is not set in stone. Right now, China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria are on the list. Under this proposal, Ohio's secretary of state would have to update the list every six months. 'That means people like my family who pay taxes and follow the law could be denied property rights overnight because of their background,' said Jay Qutiefan, who opposes the bill. But supporters of the bill said it comes down to one simple thing: national security. And the bill is popular among lawmakers. It currently has more than half of Ohio House members, Democrats and Republicans, signed onto it. And DeWine is supportive of the idea. 'I think a bill that would be strategically crafted might be good,' DeWine said. 'But it has to be written, I think, very carefully.' 'Let's be honest, this is discrimination dressed up as security,' Qutiefan said. 'Immigrants are not a threat to Ohio.' The bill has had three hearings so far, but no votes yet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
