Monroe County Named Indiana’s Only “Sanctuary Jurisdiction” on Homeland Security Watchlist

Staff report

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — May 30, 2025

Monroe County — home to Indiana University and a progressive political landscape — has been singled out by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as Indiana’s lone “sanctuary jurisdiction” in a new list released by the Trump administration.

The designation stems from Executive Order 14287, signed by President Donald Trump on April 28, 2025, which mandates the federal government publicly identify jurisdictions that “obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.” According to a DHS press release issued this week, Monroe County is among more than 100 cities, counties, and even entire states nationwide that have policies the administration claims “protect criminal illegal aliens” and “endanger the lives of Americans and law enforcement.”

“These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in the press release. “President Trump and I will always put the safety of the American people first.”

The press release stops short of offering specific allegations or examples involving Monroe County but suggests that jurisdictions on the list restrict information-sharing with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or otherwise decline to cooperate fully with federal immigration detainers.

A Lone Outlier in Indiana

Monroe County’s inclusion is notable — it’s the only Indiana county on the list. While neighboring states like Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky have multiple jurisdictions flagged by DHS, no other Indiana county or city is listed.

The list includes major urban areas like Chicago, Louisville, Columbus, and Detroit, but also smaller college towns such as Ann Arbor, East Lansing, and Urbana — all of which share a mix of Democratic-leaning politics, strong university presences, and historically more immigrant-welcoming policies.

Local law enforcement agencies, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Bloomington Police Department, have in past years said they do not act as federal immigration agents, consistent with constitutional limits on local authority.

Under the executive order, listed jurisdictions are expected to receive formal notifications of their “non-compliance” and potential violations of federal criminal statutes. DHS also states the list will be updated regularly.

A Broader Regional Context

Ironically, Monroe County is surrounded by states where marijuana is legal — a contrast that highlights the cultural and policy differences that may partly inform the Trump administration’s targeting.

• Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio all permit medical marijuana, and most allow recreational use.
• Kentucky passed a limited medical marijuana law in 2023.
• Indiana, meanwhile, remains one of the few states with no legal form of marijuana use — and where possession of even small amounts remains criminalized.

All four neighboring states also have numerous counties and cities on the sanctuary list. Cook County (Chicago) and Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor) are among the most well-known. Other notable entries include Franklin County, Ohio (Columbus) and Jefferson County, Kentucky (Louisville).

For now, Monroe County stands alone in Indiana as a symbol of resistance — or defiance, depending on one’s perspective — in a debate that is again shaping the national political narrative.

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