Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, accusing the department of repeatedly refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, is the latest escalation in Rokita’s ongoing efforts to address what he describes as a deliberate failure to assist in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
At a press conference in South Bend, Rokita outlined his office’s concerns, emphasizing that Sheriff William Redman and his department have refused to properly notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when illegal immigrants are released from custody. He also accused the department of disregarding ICE detainers—requests for local law enforcement to hold individuals who are in the U.S. illegally until federal authorities can take custody of them.
The detainers give ICE time to investigate and, if necessary, take the individuals into custody for deportation.
Rokita’s lawsuit highlights the growing tension between state and local authorities and federal immigration agencies, as some local law enforcement agencies, particularly in Democratic-led areas, have taken steps to limit cooperation with ICE under so-called “sanctuary” policies.
By not adhering to federal requests, Rokita argued, the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is enabling the presence of criminal aliens who should be deported but remain in the community due to local noncompliance. “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,” he added.
Rokita warned that the sheriff’s refusal to cooperate would likely encourage more illegal immigration to St. Joseph County and could contribute to rising crime rates. He reiterated his belief that law enforcement should prioritize the safety and security of U.S. citizens over the protection of illegal immigrants.
“I refuse as your attorney general to just stand by and watch the lawlessness happen from law enforcement officials,” Rokita stated. “If the sheriff’s department continues to defy state and federal laws, it could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging further lawlessness.”
According to Rokita, his office has made repeated efforts to communicate with Sheriff Redman’s department, seeking voluntary cooperation on the immigration issue. However, he claimed these attempts have been unsuccessful, prompting the legal action.
“The Sheriff’s Department remains noncompliant with Indiana law after multiple attempts to communicate with the sheriff,” he said. “This is not just a matter of policy; this is about enforcing the law, and we will not tolerate defiance.”
“We will also hold those who deserve to be held accountable, accountable,” he added. “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.”
Despite the legal action, Rokita left the door open for a resolution, stating that his office would be “happy” to rescind the lawsuit if the sheriff’s department begins to cooperate with federal authorities. The Attorney General stressed that the goal was not punitive but to restore compliance with both state and federal immigration law.
Rokita’s push for tighter immigration enforcement comes as President Donald Trump has begun a large-scale immigration crackdown. The Trump administration has already begun deportation flights for migrants in the country illegally, with reports stating that hundreds of individuals have been removed from the U.S. since President Trump’s inauguration. In a statement from the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Trump’s administration had arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals, including members of the Tren de Aragua gang and individuals convicted of sex crimes against minors.
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