Rokita takes aim at City-County Council over sheriff’s budget, federal immigration enforcement

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita issued a warning to the Indianapolis-Marion County City-County Council over federal immigration enforcement.

Rokita took aim at suggestions the council would restrict Marion County Sheriff’s Office ability to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The attorney general said such a proposal would violate Indiana law and jeopardize public safety.

In a letter, Rokita said the council discussed the sheriff’s office budget during a committee meeting on Sept. 3. Some members criticized MCSO’s cooperation with ICE and suggested budgetary restrictions that could limit the sheriff’s ability to cooperate with the federal agency.

Some councilors said they wouldn’t support the sheriff office’s budget if it continued working with ICE.

Rokita said state law prohibits local governments from restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities and threatened enforcement action from his office.

“Cutting the Sheriff’s budget to block ICE cooperation is illegal and would endanger Indianapolis residents,” Rokita said in a statement. “With crime surging in our capital, it is remarkable that some councilors are actually pushing policies that would help shield illegal aliens, including those who commit crimes, from being deported. If the Council goes down this path, my office will act swiftly to enforce the law and keep Hoosiers safe.”

The Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee is scheduled to meet on Sept. 24 to continue its discussion on the MCSO budget. Rokita said he and his office will be “monitoring” the meeting and future council actions to evaluate “compliance with state law.”

Rokita has filed lawsuits against sheriffs in Monroe and St. Joseph counties alleging lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities.