Indiana Governor Mike Braun issued an executive order on Tuesday requiring all statewide law enforcement agencies to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an effort to crack down on illegal immigration. This move follows President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on securing borders and comes in response to voter demands for tougher action on illegal immigration in the 2024 election.
Under the executive order, state law enforcement agencies are directed to fully cooperate with ICE and report credible evidence of illegal aliens who have a criminal history, are suspected of felonies, engage in hostile activities, or pose a threat to national security or public safety. The order applies to agencies such as the Indiana State Police, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Corrections, and Indiana Gaming Commission.
While the order does not directly apply to local and county law enforcement agencies, it encourages them to follow the state’s lead in working with ICE. The Indiana National Guard will also be asked to cooperate with requests related to immigration from the Department of Homeland Security.
However, critics, including Democrat Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, argue that the order may deter immigrants from reporting crimes in their communities and have little impact on the day-to-day operations of law enforcement agencies. Wilburn emphasized the importance of partnerships between law enforcement and immigrant communities in solving crimes and expressed concerns about the optics of the order.
Overall, Governor Braun’s executive order marks a significant step towards tighter enforcement of immigration laws within the state of Indiana, though it has raised concerns about its potential impact on immigrant communities.
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