Gov. Mike Braun promises Indiana law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration efforts

by Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
January 28, 2025

Gov. Mike Braun doubled down Tuesday that all Hoosier law enforcement agencies should “cooperate fully” with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove undocumented immigrants in Indiana.

A new executive order issued by the Republican governor describes expectations for broad law enforcement collaboration. He said the order seeks to ensure that all Indiana agencies are “abiding by the spirit” of existing state and federal immigration policies.

“The focus of this executive order is very clear … Indiana’s going to be a state that is going to be helping the (federal) administration find these folks that are described as the worst first,” Braun said.

“We’re going to do what the federal government asks us to do that’s reasonable to help find the most egregious examples of illegal immigrants that have committed egregious crimes,” he continued. “I’m going to direct any of our authorities to not resist, and hopefully they’ll be compliant on their own. I think a large part of the jurisdictions across our state will be, without any push from (the governor’s) office.”

When asked if Indiana law enforcement will be directed to enter schools or churches in search of undocumented immigrants, Braun said “no, because I’m not getting any directive from the federal government” to do so.

“There’s nothing coming from here other than we are going to comply with what they’re doing federally,” Braun reiterated. “Don’t extrapolate it into more than what we see here, because it’s gonna take a good while for this to take hold.”

Braun’s order states that Indiana law enforcement agencies — at all levels, including local and state — 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 will also be required to report “credible evidence” of undocumented immigrants to Indiana’s Intelligence Fusion Center if an 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, operated by state police, will then share that information with ICE.

The order further notes that Indiana’s National Guard will cooperate with state and federal requests “to the fullest extent permitted by law.”

Indiana National Guard to depart for U.S.-Mexico border

A 10-month deployment to Texas’ border with Mexico for 50 Hoosier guard members is set to end in the coming weeks. Braun said he’s “intending to keep (guard members) in place,” but is “hopeful” that President Donald Trump’s administration will soon take action at the southern border, thus minimizing the need for the Indiana guard’s presence there.

“Let’s see what kind of progress they make. … Let’s see what happens in D.C. — if we actually get resources to secure the border, in a way that really secures it. And for the northern border, as well,” Braun said. “Then, I think the real solution has to come from Congress, and I expect that could happen quicker than what you might imagine, simply by measuring the results in this short period of time.”

Braun’s directives stipulate, too, that the Indiana Department of Administration, as well as other state agencies that do contracting work, must require contracted vendors to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to ensure their workforce “is lawfully permitted to work in the United States and in the State of Indiana.”

“Taxpayer money will not fund the contracts of illegal immigrants,” Braun’s office said in a news release.

In a related but separate move, Indiana lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday to boost Hoosier participation in a federal program that allows local law enforcement to partner with ICE.

Senate Bill 430 intends to open up additional funds for Hoosier agencies to participate in the 287(g) program, an increased immigration enforcement agreement with the federal government, as part of a broad crackdown on those without legal citizenship.

Under 287(g), a local law enforcement agency — usually a county sheriff’s office that operates a jail — can voluntarily enter a memorandum of understanding with the federal government to become deputized by ICE to execute immigration investigations and determine next steps while migrants are in custody.

The agreement allows local law enforcement to detain an individual without citizenship and carry out their own investigation to determine whether to turn the subject over to federal authorities. Outside of such agreements, localities have to wait for ICE to investigate a person’s status. Oftentimes, ICE cannot respond to every detainee before detainers expire.

On Monday, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office was the first law enforcement agency in the state to announce its participation in the program. Local officials said the program will only impact undocumented people who have committed crimes and are in the county jail.

The bill, authored by Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, was voted unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee and now heads to the full chamber.

Another measure under consideration in the Statehouse would require Indiana law enforcement to give federal authorities notice when they arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally.

Last week, House Bill 1393 drew opposition from those concerned it could ensnare non-white citizens and others with different forms of legal status, but support from those wishing to better enforce the nation’s immigration laws. Lawmakers criss-crossed party lines in an 8-2 committee vote, sending the bill to the House chamber.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.