Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. Bills like this blur the lines between federal and local responsibilities and divert public safety dollars. All sheriffs running jails in Indiana currently have wide discretion on whether – and how – to participate in the federal government’s 287(g) program. At present, none have decided to do so. This is likewise true of 95% of sheriff’s offices nationwide.
If passed, HB 1158 would strip Indiana counties of their discretionary power, forcing all county sheriffs to participate in a costly, time-consuming federal program. This would be a burdensome mandate. As of December 2024, only about 130 state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide had entered into such agreements. We oppose this bill because it would drain local resources, drastically expand ICE's access to local law enforcement data and manpower, harm immigrant communities, and damage public safety efforts by making immigrants less likely to share important information with local authorities.
