By GREGG MONTGOMERY
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Rokita
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita revealed Monday he issued a civil investigative demand to Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. as part of an investigation that began in November into potential labor trafficking in Indiana.
Federal agencies sometimes use civil investigative demands, or CIDs, to gather documents, testimony, and other evidence in the early stages of a civil investigation before any formal lawsuit is filed. Unlike a typical subpoena, a CID does not require court approval and can demand extensive information to investigate potential violations of antitrust, consumer protection, or the federal False Claims Act laws.
The Republican’s office said in a news release issued Monday that the investigation started in November is looking into the activities of nonprofits and private companies in Indiana, including Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc., which provides services to illegal aliens and others. Exodus Refugee has centers in Indianapolis and Bloomington.
The attorney general’s office says the civil investigative demand sent to Exodus Refugee seeks information about possible interference with federal immigration enforcement activities in Monroe County. Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement informed the attorney general’s office about challenges faced during a recent ICE operation in Monroe County, which may have been affected by coordinated efforts to help illegal aliens evade apprehension.
Rokita emphasized that the investigative demand is not an accusation of wrongdoing but a step to uncover facts and address potential issues related to human trafficking. The investigation is being conducted under Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, the nonprofit portion of the law, and its indecent nuisance section.
News 8 reached out to Exodus Refugee for comment but did not immediately receive a response late Monday afternoon.
Statement from AG Todd Rokita
“Hoosier communities are grappling with the consequences of the reckless open-border policies of the previous administration. The mass movement of illegal aliens and others into Indiana has exposed our communities to significant public safety risks, including increased concerns about labor trafficking, as many of them are brought to the state to provide low-cost labor. Worse, some organizations in Indiana – whether they are local officials like the Monroe County sheriff who operate sanctuary policies or private organizations that appear to encourage or assist illegal immigration – are making the problem worse.”
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/crime-watch-8/indiana-ags-eyes-potential-labor-trafficking-in-the-state.