By CHIEF DEPUTY JOHN LOWES
Guest Columnist
As Governor Mike Braun recently said, “Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration. Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.”
As Chief Deputy of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and chair of our newly formed Immigration Commission, I want to thank Governor Braun for his strong leadership, and reiterate our efforts in Hamilton County.
Earlier this year, Hamilton County became the first local law enforcement agency in Indiana to join the federal 287(g) program under the Jail Enforcement Model (JEM) – a collaboration with federal agencies which allows us to enforce our immigration laws. This partnership gives our deputies training, tools, and the authority to identify and process individuals who are unlawfully present and subsequently arrested for criminal offenses in our jurisdiction. This is about targeted enforcement – not rounding people up indiscriminately, but protecting public safety by removing those who continue to break our laws and are already housed in the Hamilton County jail system for offenses unrelated to their illegal status.
Governor Braun’s announcement that the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, Department of Correction, and National Guard will now join this effort amplifies what we started in Hamilton County. By bringing state, local, and federal partners together we are growing a strong coalition to enforce immigration laws and keep our communities safe. The governor’s actions show that when federal, state and local partners work together, we can and we will uphold safety and stand for the rule of law.
Here in Hamilton County we already benefit from this collaboration. Criminals often lie about their identities during booking, and through access to ICE systems and working side by side with federal agents, we can verify identities accurately, enforce immigration laws, and ensure dangerous offenders are removed from our community.
Furthermore, our Hamilton County Immigration Commission will help to coordinate enforcement with federal partners, educate and communicate with residents and stakeholders with transparency, and streamline the process for identifying and removing criminal illegal aliens from the community. This is a team approach, and I’m grateful to all who play a role in our efforts.
I am honored to lead the Hamilton County Immigration Commission, and am focused on our mission to protect those who abide by the rules, while holding accountable those who do not.
Governor Braun’s leadership gives our local mission even greater momentum, and Hamilton County stands united with the state in declaring that we will not serve as a refuge for criminal behavior or illegal immigration.
We will continue using every tool at our disposal, including the 287(g) program, to preserve our quality of life, enforce our laws, and keep Hamilton County safe.
Chief Deputy John Lowes serves as the chair of the Hamilton County Immigration Commission.
Hello,
This still does not give me confidence in how our police force is operating. You say criminals, but how minor of a crime would you consider for someone to be deported?
Would you consider a teenager shoplifting items under $50 (car oil, hair creme, conditioner, protein shakes) once from Walmart a basis for deportation?
Whether your answer, its the fact that this has already happen in the state of Indiana. The student is named Jaime Pasillas, and he was brought to the United States when he was 6 years old. The process to get immigration is a long and difficult process for most people, especially minors. While Pasillas turned 18 recently, my point still stands, exact how minor of an offense would you consider to cause deportation, would you consider parking tickets with no other offenses as acceptance for deportation? Are you trying to even get them legal status if the criminal offenses are so small that they literally do not cause any issues except for large corporations.
There is also the fact that criminals, whether you like it or not, are still human beings. This language makes it seems like they are somehow “other” from people in our community, when we know well that our country-born neighbors are just as capable of becoming criminals.
I disagree that this is making our great county safe! Especially since a lot of these people are already having difficulties even navigating the system in the first place! They need assistance! Not a police force waiting to destroy their lives the minute they make a mistake.
Kind regards,
Debbie
there are procedures for citizenship in the our country.if one elects not to become one, and hopes he or she does not get deported, that is their choice.
the current mess with illegal immigration falls clearly on Joe Biden and the Democratic party.