Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita cautioned local officials in several Indiana cities and counties that he will pursue legal action against them after July 1 if they refuse to follow laws aimed at apprehending illegal immigrants.

Attorney General Rokita’s office sent a blunt message to officials in East Chicago, Gary, West Lafayette and Monroe County: Confirm you have rescinded local policies that enable illegal immigration — or face swift legal consequences starting July 1.

“The flood of illegal immigrants entering the United States is a problem that harms all of us,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The ones paying the price for this lawlessness are Hoosier taxpayers, who must bear increased costs for health care, education and other services used by illegal immigrants.”

The Indiana General Assembly passed a law this year authorizing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities or units of local government not enforcing current Indiana laws banning sanctuary cities.

A "sanctuary city" is a term for a local unit of government that has adopted a policy to deliberately and intentionally disregard federal law and not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Town hall attendees and some state representatives have decried these “immigrant welcome centers” popping up around the state, expressing worries that crime and illegal, cheap labor will displace current residents in places like Johnson and Jackson counties.

“We welcome want-to-be-patriots to the United States who will add value to our country and want to live their lives under the values this country was founded upon,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The first way they can show that is by following our laws. Those who do not follow our laws by entering our country legally should not be allowed to stay.”

Attorney General Rokita has sent letters to officials in the cities of East Chicago, Gary, West Lafayette and Monroe County — warning them of impending action if they do not repeal current policies violating Indiana law.

WASHINGTON – Senators Mike Braun, Roger Marshall, M.D., Katie Britt, Ted Budd, and Rick Scott introduced the Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act to protect small businesses from the financial burden of top-down federal regulations.

Often, when D.C. imposes regulations, it comes at a significant cost to our locally-owned businesses. In 2022 alone, complying with regulations cost American small businesses an average of $14,700 (adjusted for 2023 dollars) per employee on their payroll. The Small Business Regulatory Reduction Act alleviates these costs and requires the Administration to submit an annual report to Congress outlining the impacts of regulations on small businesses.

“We need to cut burdensome regulations on small businesses in order for Main Street to thrive. I’m proud to join Sen. Marshall on this bill to prevent big government from stacking regulations on top of America’s small businesses without removing any red tape.”—Sen. Braun

"Washington D.C.'s top-down regulatory approach hurts our small businesses – the backbone of our economy – the most. Main Street merchants are constantly under attack from this Administration's onslaught of regulations and jumping through unnecessary and costly hoops to provide services to our communities. I am proud to join Rep. Beth Van Duyne in fighting for this important legislation that addresses our small businesses' concerns and stands up to the Administration's relentless attacks."—Sen. Marshall

“I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this common sense legislation to alleviate burdens on small businesses, who already have to contend with persistently high inflation on top of the Biden Administration’s red tape regime. From entrepreneurs just starting out to the established, family-owned shops on local Main Streets across our great state and nation, I will continue to fight tirelessly for small businesses and the families they support.”—Sen. Britt

“The SBA’s fundamental purpose is to empower America’s small businesses, not add regulatory burdens. I’m proud to join Senator Marshall’s commonsense bill to control the regulatory state and help job creators serve their customers.”—Sen. Budd

This legislation is based on the Trump Administration policy that required agencies to repeal two regulations for every new one created. This successful policy was repealed by the Biden Administration in 2021.

• State of Indiana
• Family

The Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) has received national recognition for its Indiana Family Preservation Services program, which provides in-home support to strengthen families and improve outcomes while reducing the number of children entering the foster care system.

The program, which launched in June 2020, has been designated a promising practice by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. The program also was highlighted as an example of how new approaches to child welfare practice can enhance child and family well-being in an April report by the Christensen Institute. On Wednesday, David Reed, MSW, LCSW, CSAYC, deputy director for child welfare services at DCS, spoke about the program’s positive impact before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance.

The Indiana Family Preservation Services program is designed to keep children in their home when it is safe to do so. It achieves this goal by helping families understand and implement best practices for parental resilience, child development and social connectedness. The program also can provide other support, such as financial assistance, when not doing so would result in children having to enter foster care. Most importantly, all services are coordinated by a single provider, easing the administrative burden on families by working with a single point of contact.

“Entering foster care and being separated from family is traumatic for children,” Reed said. “When we can provide the support that allows children to remain safely at home, we see vastly improved outcomes and healthier relationships over the long term.” 

Reed noted that the program has resulted in children being safer, with fewer children experiencing repeated maltreatment than before its launch. 

Additionally, since the federal Family First Prevention Services Act passed in 2018, DCS has:

•  Reduced the number of children in traditional out-of-home foster care by 50 percent 
•  Reduced the number of children in residential facilities by more than 50 percent

The Indiana Family Preservation Services program has played a critical role in those outcomes. 

Since its inception, Indiana Family Preservation Services has served more than 27,000 children and 14,000 families.

By Becky Killian
Staff Writer

The City of Salem’s dispatch department will merge into the county’s 911 effective June 1. The merger got a unanimous vote of support from the Washington County Board of Commissioners during the Tuesday, May 21, meeting.

Prior to the vote, Commissioner Todd Ewen said, “I’m tickled to death this has finally come about.” He commended Mayor Justin Green and Sheriff Brent Miller for their negotiations that resulted in the merger.

The agreement is expected to save administrative and overhead costs for both the city and county. The city will provide two dispatchers’ salaries annually in an amount not to exceed $65,000.

The merger found unanimous support from the Salem Common Council during its Monday, May 13, meeting.

The change will not result in any loss of jobs, Green said. The city’s current dispatchers will have the option of transferring to the county.

Green said both the city and county departments struggle to find adequate staffing: it is hoped the merger will alleviate that problem.

“This proposal makes sense in a lot of ways,” Green said, adding that a combined city-county dispatch is not unique to Salem and Washington County.

The interlocal agreement that details the merger offers both parties the opportunity to opt out with a 90-day notification. The agreement has a term of five years.