IN Senate advances immigration enforcement bill

By Joe Ulery • Indiana News Service

Indiana lawmakers are advancing a Republican-backed immigration enforcement bill to expand cooperation with federal authorities and punish local governments refusing to comply.

Senate Bill 76 was approved on a party-line vote and sent to the House. It would require jails to honor immigration detainer requests, notify judges when a detainer applies and follow statewide rules set by the Department of Correction. It also allows the governor to withhold state funding from local governments failing to comply.

Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, the bill’s author, said it responds to what she called a national crisis.

“This state has always been on the side of law enforcement, and we’ve had our own policies, such as banning sanctuary city policies to ensure that law enforcement can do the job we have tasked them to do,” Brown explained. “This time, we’re asking our law enforcement to assist the federal law enforcement agencies.”

Supporters argued the measure helps law enforcement do its job and ensures uniform cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Democrats warned the bill could strain overcrowded county jails and damage trust between police and immigrant communities.

They added the bill shifts federal enforcement costs onto local governments and raises constitutional concerns. Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said the measure adds burdens without addressing capacity or rights, and counties would pay the price.

“County jails across the state are already full, and sheriffs have told us plainly that they are running out of space, that resources and staff are low,” Yoder pointed out. “Yet this bill demands more holds, more time in custody, and more administrative burden, and not taking into account even constitutional rights.”

The bill now moves to the Indiana House for consideration.