INDIANAPOLIS — On Tuesday, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed an executive order for the state to fully cooperate with the federal government's immigration policies.
“Over the last four years, the increase in illegal aliens flooding our country has created a significant threat to public safety for Hoosiers and allowed bad actors to abuse American generosity, costing taxpayers at every level. That ends now,” said Indiana Governor Mike Braun. “Indiana will cooperate fully with the federal government, offering the assistance of the Indiana National Guard while strengthening our own efforts at home to keep illegal aliens with criminal histories out of our communities.”
Under the order, law enforcement agencies in the state will be required to fully cooperate with the US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). The order states they will, as found necessary and appropriate, "perform the functions of immigration officers in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of individuals illegally or unlawfully present in the United States."
Law enforcement agencies will also be required to report evidence of an illegal immigrant to the Intelligence Fusion Center if the individual: has a criminal history and/or is suspected of committing a felony, is suspected of engaging in espionage or terror-related activities, or presents a threat to national security or public safety. The Fusion Center will then share this information with ICE.
Additionally, per the order, the Indiana National Guard will cooperate with requests from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The order also requires state vendors to verify their workforce is lawfully permitted to work in the United States before entering any contract with the state "Taxpayer money will not fund the contracts of illegal immigrants," Braun's office said in a press release.
We reached out to several local immigration advocacy organization fo reaction. They all declined an interview. The Immigrant Welcome Center did send the following sentence.
Immigrant Welcome Center (IWC) is proud to be a trusted partner of immigrants from over 76 countries around the globe. Since 2006, we’ve built strong relationships within the communities we serve. In 2023, our staff provided critical resources to more than 7,400 individuals, providing critical resources and advocacy, to help families thrive in communities they live and work in.
We acknowledge the significant impact that recent federal executive orders will have on our immigrant communities nationwide. As a local nonprofit organization dedicated to serving immigrants in Central Indiana, we also are closely monitoring statewide legislative bills and the potential implications they may have on the safety and wellbeing of immigrants here in the Hoosier state. Our priority and commitment continue to be creating welcoming and inclusive communities where everyone can access the resources they need to thrive. We will continue to work in partnership with other local and statewide organizations to advocate for the rights of our immigrant neighbors in Central Indiana and around the state, and ensure that the needs of our community members are being met.
