NRCC Accuses Ohio Dem of Harboring Illegal Immigrant

Democratic congressional candidate Sharen Neuhardt has harbored an illegal immigrant from Rwanda on her farm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) alleged in a release Wednesday.

Neuhardt had housed Ishema Umuhoza, a 26-year-old Rwandan political refugee, since 2002, according to the Daily News. The refugee had his application for political asylum denied, but Neuhardt and her husband are in the process of appealing the denial.

The NRCC slammed Neuhardt, accusing her of running a “sanctuary city” on her farm, while also playing up Umuhoza’s arrest record–four traffic violations, and two charges related to public intoxication.

“Ohio voters want a representative who will help solve the illegal immigration problem, not one who contributes to it,” said NRCC spokesman Brendan Buck.

The Neuhardt campaign condemned the attack, saying Republicans were “cowardly attacking a survivor of the Rwandan genocide for political gain.”

Neuhardt is running against state Sen. Steve Austria (R) in Ohio’s 7th district to replace Rep. Dave Hobson (R), who is retiring. The Cook Political Report says the winner is “likely Republican.”

–Michael O’Brien