Indiana House advances statewide immigration enforcement bill

By GARRETT BERGQUSIT
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Local governments and universities would be prohibited from restricting immigration enforcement regardless of which agency does it under a bill the Indiana House approved Thursday afternoon.

The bill would require authorities to notify the judge considering bail if a person in custody is subject to an immigration detainer and require them to comply with all requests made related to the detainer. It also allows the attorney general to defend any law enforcement officer or agency who carries out an immigration enforcement action in civil suits.

Although state law already prohibits governmental bodies from limiting or restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws, the bill adds language clarifying such institutions cannot interfere regardless of whether the action is carried out by a federal, state or local agency.

Additionally, state law prohibits any employer from knowingly hiring or recruiting anyone who is in the country illegally.

The measure comes as Republicans in Indiana and across the country try to direct state resources to assist the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies. Gov. Mike Braun in his first days in office ordered state law enforcement agencies to assist federal immigration authorities whenever possible and state lawmakers briefly considered requiring county sheriffs to participate in the 287(g) jail enforcement program.

“President Trump and border czar Tom Homan have been making great strides in securing our border and removing those from our country who have entered illegally with a priority on those that have committed additional crimes first,” bill author Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, said. “But we have a part to play here in Indiana as well. We can do that with this legislation.”

The bill passed the House along party lines.

Democrats said the bill does not provide stiff enough penalties to employers. In addition, they said it sends an inhospitable message to those looking to make their home in Indiana legally.

Garcia Wilburn

“It threatens our Hoosier hospitality,” Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, said, citing committee testimony from someone who said they were against all immigration, legal or otherwise. “The narrative of being opposed to legal immigration is a narrative we should universally reject. Who among you does not have an immigration story?”

The bill now goes to the Senate. Lawmakers will take their midsession break next week and return to the Statehouse on March 3.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/indiana-house-immigration-enforcement-bill.