Indiana attorney general sues St. Joseph County, saying jail not cooperating with ICE

By Jeff Parrott, IPB News | Published on in Government, Law, Politics, Statewide News
Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, center, announces Friday at the County-City Building that he's filed suit against St. Joseph County, alleging its jail is violating a new state law by not cooperating with federal immigration officials. Sheriff Bill Redman denied the allegations. (Jeff Parrott / WVPE)

Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sued St. Joseph County Friday, alleging its jail is breaking a new state law by not cooperating with federal immigration officials.

Rokita, a vocal supporter of President Trump, held a press conference in the lobby of the County-City Building, moments after he filed suit in St. Joseph Circuit Court. He says Democratic Sheriff Bill Redman has ignored requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold people who had been arrested on various charges and were living in the U.S. illegally.

Rokita said an influx of undocumented immigrants in recent years is overtaxing Indiana’s resources. As an example, he talked about a teacher who told him she had retired early because she was so tired of having to teach more students who don’t speak English. She had to call an 800 number and speak with a translator.

“Our schools are being overrun in some areas, if not every school district, by illegal immigrant illegal alien children, who are overfilling the classroom, taking up resources like they’re taking away law enforcement resources, like they’re taking up hospital resources,” Rokita said.

Rokita has filed a similar suit against Monroe County in Bloomington.

Redman was out of town Friday. In a Facebook post, the sheriff department denied Rokita’s allegations, saying, “When the jail receives a detainer or request from ICE, staff promptly informs immigration officials when that individual will be released on their criminal charges for detainment by ICE.”

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