Monroe County is the only Indiana jurisdiction named on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s list of cities, counties and states that the agency believes obstruct enforcement of federal immigration law.
The list is a product of an executive order issued by President Trump. The order requires a published list of local jurisdictions that the administration believes “protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is currently in a legal battle with state Attorney General Todd Rokita.
Read more: Conclusion nears in Rokita/Monroe County Sheriff’s Office immigration lawsuit
According to a lawsuit filed last summer, Rokita believes the language of Sheriff Ruben Marté's policy encourages officers to not cooperate with federal authorities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.
Officers of the county sheriff’s office do not share or attempt to gain information about a detained person’s citizenship unless legally required.
“My office takes seriously our obligation to enforce the laws while respecting everyone’s constitutional rights,” Marté said last August. “Our Standard Operating Procedure does exactly that. We are prepared to defend vigorously the policy in court.”
Related: Bloomington's Kerry Thomson on ICE response, branding initiative, parking
Indiana law enforcement’s approach to federal immigration laws has been mixed.
Earlier this year, Indianapolis Metro Police Chief Chris Bailey said local police do not have the power to enforce federal immigration law and did not plan to assist in ICE operations. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office announced in January that it would form an immigration commission to assist ICE.
Bloomington Exodus is a non-profit that helps refugees and parolees in the United States on legal, temporary protected status resettle. Exodus briefly closed its doors when rumors of ICE operations in Bloomington began to spread online.
Read more: Mother, sister of Bloomington man detained by ICE speak out
The Monroe County Board of Commissioners released a statement Sunday, maintaining that county government's current policies "are consistent with all applicable laws, including the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution."
"As the daughter of an immigrant, this so-called ‘sanctuary jurisdictions list’ is nothing more than political theater by a President who views all immigrants, regardless of legal status, as villains," said Julie Thomas, president of the Board of Commissioners. "Monroe County follows the law and will continue defending its lawful policies. We will not be intimidated by a heavy-handed federal government that breaks its own immigration laws by deporting individuals with valid legal status."
"This action by DHS has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with targeting and attempting to criminalize an entire group of people that has been singled out on false and xenophobic bases like they are ‘dangerous’ or ‘violent’," said Jody Madeira, member of the Board of Commissioners. "I am a strong believer in the values for which Monroe County stands, such as civility, tolerance, and respect, and will not be complicit instigmatizing fellow human beings."
"The President outrageously equated a lack of local capitulation to draconian federal immigration policies with a ‘lawless insurrection’," said Lee Jones, member of the Board of Commissioners. "Local governments know how to keep their communities safe—and Monroe County will continue to promote the health and safety of its residents through inclusive local policies, even when the federal government fails."