A bill that would require Indiana law enforcement officers to notify federal immigration officials when they arrest anyone suspected of being in the country illegally has advanced to the state House floor.
The House Committee on Veteran Affairs and Public Safety passed House Bill 1393 by a 9-2 vote. Its sponsor, state Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, said the bill would foster cooperation between law enforcement agencies and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“In Indiana, we welcome anyone who wants to work, live and thrive in our local communities,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, some of these individuals who come to the United States are not here in good faith, and this common-sense bill would allow our local law enforcement agencies to help our federal government root out bad actors that have been arrested for crimes.”
If passed, any Indiana law enforcement officer who makes a misdemeanor or felony arrest would be required to contact ICE if they have probable cause regarding the immigration status of the accused.
HB 1393 would be the latest measure targeting illegal immigration in the state. Last year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 181. That measure allows the state’s attorney general to sue municipalities or colleges if they adhere to “sanctuary city” policies that seek to protect illegal immigrants from being deported by refusing to cooperate with federal officials.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has already used that law several times to ensure cities and counties comply with the law. The most recent occurrence came Friday when Rokita’s office filed a complaint against St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman and the county’s police department.
The filing comes after ICE listed the law enforcement agency in the north central county as noncooperative. According to the state’s filing, the department is accused of releasing nine individuals ICE requested to be detained before the 48-hour detention period ends.
“In some instances, the aliens who were the subjects of the detainer requests and released by SJCPD before ICE could assume custody had committed crimes that pose a direct threat to public safety,” the complaint stated.
Bascom said his bill could complement federal legislation on immigration. That would include the Laken Riley Act, a bill President Donald Trump is expected to sign in the near future. That measure requires ICE to apprehend illegal immigrants charged with such crimes as theft, assault or murder. It also gives states the power to sue the federal agencies that refuse to uphold immigration laws.
