Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's threat of legal action against Monroe County centers on a Monroe County Sheriff's Office policy on the detention of undocumented immigrants.
Rokita wrote to Marté on May 14 regarding a policy allowing undocumented immigrants with local ties to be released from jail when charged with low-level crimes. In his letter, Rokita asked Marté to respond by June 14 confirming whether the policy is still in effect.
READ: Attorney General Letter 5-14-24
Last legislative session, state lawmakers gave Rokita’s office the power to enforce a state ban on local policies that restrict immigration-related cooperation with federal authorities, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
The digest of Senate Enrolled Act 181 reads as follows:
“If the attorney general determines probable cause exists, the attorney general, rather than any person lawfully domiciled in Indiana, shall bring an action to compel a governmental body or postsecondary educational institution to comply with statutes requiring cooperation with federal immigration officials. Requires a court to apply a preponderance of the evidence standard to enjoin the violation of those statutes.”
The law goes into effect July 1, the deadline Rokita is giving Marté to rescind the policy if it is still in effect.
Rokita wrote, “Unless the detainer directive has been rescinded on or before July 1, 2024, probable cause will exist to bring an action against the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to compel its compliance with Indiana law — and I will do so.”
The Herald-Times reports the Sheriff's Office policy was introduced in 2014 and was reviewed and approved by former Sheriff Brad Swain in 2018.
Swain told WFIU/WTIU News his administration would notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if someone were booked with a low-level charge but wanted by the agency.
“If there is a flag by ICE on someone, we would honor that flag,” Swain said. “If ICE found out on their own means or had a detainer notice, regardless of whether it was a low-level crime, we would notify ICE.”
WFIU/WTIU News has not yet been able to independently obtain and review the policy.
In a Tuesday email, Chief Deputy Phil Parker wrote to WFIU/WTIU News, “The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is currently engaged with the Attorney General’s office to determine the underlying issues associated with Attorney General Rokita’s letter.”
Parker provided the statement on behalf of Sheriff Ruben Marté, who was out of the office Tuesday.
The Sheriff’s Office declined to answer additional questions about the policy.
This article has been updated.
