Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has publicly criticized Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken for comments made during a recent county commissioners’ meeting, where Gerken referred to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and border patrol agents as a “terrorist group.”
In a letter addressed to Commissioner Gerken, Senator Moreno expressed strong disapproval of the remarks. “I find it extremely ironic that previously you publicly called for President Trump to be ‘respectful toward the local community,’” wrote Senator Moreno. “Yet, you yourself, in a public meeting, called federal law enforcement officers, who sacrifice so much to uphold our laws and keep our communities safe, ‘terrorists.’ Although your unhinged conduct, which is wholly unfit for someone holding public office, should not be surprising as you clearly have a pattern of engaging in disrespectful behavior and misconduct yourself that you teach and encourage in others as well.”
The controversy stems from statements made by Gerken on January 13, 2026. During the meeting, he said: “I think DHS, ICE, and border patrol have gone from a legitimate, in the past, law enforcement agency, to a terrorist group.” The comments were made as Lucas County Commissioners voted to rescind their previous agreement to accept $70,000 from the Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden program.
Moreno’s letter highlighted that these federal funds are intended to improve critical infrastructure within Lucas County. According to Sheriff Navarre of Lucas County—who has stated that such funds have been received for nearly two decades—the grant would help address financial challenges facing the county. The Toledo Public Schools system is currently dealing with an estimated $70 million budget deficit. Additionally, Sheriff Navarre has requested a $6.57 million increase in his department’s budget due to staffing shortages.
Commissioner Gerken defended both his comments and the decision not to accept the federal funding by stating: “I thought it was time for someone on our committee to speak up and say look, for $70,000 I don’t think we want to take money from an organization that has delegitimized itself.”
Moreno argued that this rhetoric is inconsistent with Gerken’s constitutional responsibilities as an elected official. He cited Ohio Revised Code 3.07 regarding officials’ duties and suggested that refusing federal support could impact essential services provided by county agencies.
The senator also connected such language with increased violence against federal law enforcement personnel nationwide. In his letter he wrote: “This type of venomous language has led to federal law enforcement personnel being murdered in the line of duty where gunmen label their bullets ‘ANTI-ICE,’ the encouragement of domestic terrorist attacks… an overall 3,200 percent surge in vehicular attacks against ICE agents and a more than 1,150 percent increase in assault and violence against ICE officers.”
Moreno concluded by asking Commissioner Gerken for written responses within five days.
