Attorney General Todd Rokita has concluded that the Lake County Sheriff’s Department has reversed course and is now cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, as required by state law. This is due in large part to on-going consultations with federal immigration authorities and the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.
Attorney General Rokita sent two letters in recent months to the Lake County sheriff warning that a lawsuit would ensue if the Department continued defying state law by limiting its officers’ cooperation with ICE officials.
“With the Lake County Sheriff’s Department now honoring ICE detainers, criminal aliens will be deported rather than just simply being released back into our communities,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Eliminating another sanctuary jurisdiction from our state is a major win for the rule of law and for Hoosier taxpayers. We will continue our ongoing conversations with ICE and Lake County to ensure they are compliant with Indiana law. We do reserve our right at all times to enforce state law, even when it comes to the County Sheriff.”
Last year, the Indiana General Assembly passed a law authorizing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities, or units of local government that do not comply with Indiana’s ban on sanctuary jurisdictions — entities that deliberately and intentionally restrict and obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Attorney General Rokita recently sued the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department over their persistent practice of refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. He says he will continue to evaluate units of local government and will take action as warranted to ensure compliance with state law.