The Indiana House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee passed a bill in a 12-1 vote on Tuesday that would encourage local law enforcement agencies to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through the 287(g) program. This initiative trains and deputizes local officers to carry out certain ICE functions within prisons and jails.
State Rep. Chris Jeter (R-Fishers) voiced strong support for the measure, stating, “These types of operations are going to be happening around the country, and I think our local law enforcement officials would benefit, our communities would benefit from training on how to handle those situations.”
This bill follows the failure of a previous proposal that sought to mandate all county law enforcement agencies to participate in the program. Instead, the current measure would establish a grant system through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) to help fund agencies that choose to participate voluntarily.
A statement from Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus President Karla Lopez Owens reads in part:
“The INDLC strongly opposes Senate Bill 430, which would allocate state funding to local law enforcement agencies that choose to sign agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill is part of a broader effort to target immigrant communities in Indiana, led by lawmakers who’ve pushed anti-immigrant legislation for nearly two decades. We are deeply concerned that SB 430 would incentivize dangerous and discriminatory partnerships between local law enforcement and ICE – programs long known for racial profiling, constitutional violations, and costly lawsuits, as documented by the U.S. Department of Justice.”
Mike Biberstine, representing the Indiana Sheriffs Association, praised the bill, saying it would provide an avenue for sheriff’s offices to join the program without incurring excessive local costs. However, some lawmakers raised concerns about the financial burden on the state and municipalities. “There’s no specific number or amount that’s listed in the fiscal that defines what the cost of the program is,” noted State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage).
Currently, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement agency in Indiana to have signed up for the 287(g) program since its inception in the late 1990s. The bill now moves forward for further consideration.
