Rokita warns Indianapolis council against blocking sheriff’s ICE cooperation

From press release

INDIANAPOLIS — Sept. 24, 2025 — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is warning the Indianapolis-Marion City-County Council that any move to cut the Marion County Sheriff’s Office budget in order to limit cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would violate state law.

In a letter sent this week, Rokita said Indiana law prohibits local governments from restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. He argued that cutting funds to prevent the sheriff from providing detention space for ICE detainees at the Marion County Adult Detention Center would be unlawful and could draw enforcement action from his office.

“Cutting the Sheriff’s budget to block ICE cooperation is illegal and would endanger Indianapolis residents,” Rokita said in the release. “If the Council goes down this path, my office will act swiftly to enforce the law and keep Hoosiers safe.”

For nearly three decades, the sheriff’s office has provided detention space for federal prisoners, including people held by ICE while awaiting deportation. Sheriff Kerry Forestal has continued that cooperation, which Rokita praised in the letter.

The council’s Public Safety and Criminal Justice Committee discussed possible budget limits during a Sept. 3 meeting and is scheduled to revisit the issue Wednesday. Rokita’s office said it will monitor the council’s actions to ensure compliance with state law.

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