COLUMBUS — Gov. John Kasich today found himself in agreement with President Trump in opposing the creation of sanctuary cities in Ohio and elsewhere in America where local law enforcement resist enforcement of federal immigration law.

“I think the President is right on this,” the former Republican presidential candidate told the Ohio Newspaper Association. “It think this is a bad, bad thing. When people break the law, they need to be held accountable for something like coming here illegally.

The governor's comments came two days after Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who has opposed some of the governor's policies on issues such as Medicaid expansion, joined with a Republican legislator to propose state legislation banning such cities.

The bill also would make local officials civilly and criminally responsible for any damages or injury caused by illegal immigrants who reside in a sanctuary city.

A day later, House Democrats proposed a bill that would make all of Ohio a sanctuary state.

“I don't believe in sanctuary cities,” Mr. Kasich said. “I don't think we got to pass anything. Just let this all work itself out.”

The governor did not weigh in on President Trump's suggestions that federal aid should be withheld from sanctuary cities.

Cincinnati recently declared itself to be such a city while Columbus has stopped just short of doing so. Toledo and Lucas County do not consider themselves to be sanctuary governments.

Contact Jim Provance at: jprovance@theblade.com or 614-221-0496.

First Published February 8, 2017, 8:46 p.m.