Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita made an announcement on Friday, stating that his office has taken legal action against the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department regarding the issue of illegal immigration.
“I filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph County Sheriff [William] Redman and his department over their persistent practice of refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities,” Rokita told reporters at the press conference in South Bend, Indiana.
He continued, “This includes refusing to notify ICE properly about the release of illegal aliens and also refusing to honor ICE detainers. This deliberate decision to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities is giving safe harbor to criminal aliens that need to be removed from our country and this county.”
ICE detainers are individuals whom ICE requests local authorities to detain until an ICE agent is able to take them into custody.
According to him, the actions of the sheriff would attract more migrants who are in the country illegally to come to St. Joseph County and engage in criminal activities.
“I refuse as your attorney general to just stand by and watch the lawlessness happen from law enforcement officials,” he added.
According to Rokita, the Sheriff’s Department has continuously failed to comply with Indiana law despite numerous attempts to establish communication with the sheriff.
He noted that despite the lawsuit, Indiana will continue to support its law enforcement, “but we will also hold those who deserve to be held accountable, accountable.”
“My office will not stop in our work here on this issue until the law is followed and we put our people first over illegal aliens,” he said.
According to Rokita, if the sheriff’s department starts cooperating, his office would gladly withdraw the lawsuit.
In addition, his office is currently examining possible labor tracking networks within the state. This investigation comes in response to reports from residents who have noticed a significant increase in the number of migrants settling in their communities.
As President Trump unveils his mass deportation plan, the White House declares that hundreds of migrants in the country illegally have been removed since he took office on Monday. The lawsuit is a timely development in light of these recent actions.
“TODAY: The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X on Thursday. “The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway.”