Indiana AG targets St. Joseph County in lawsuit, alleging failure to cooperate with ICE
SOUTH BEND, Ind.--- Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita visited South Bend Friday to file and announce a lawsuit against the St. Joseph County Police Department. His visit, unbeknownst to the defendants or the City of South Bend.
"I just came from the circuit court where I filed a very important lawsuit that deals directly with illegal immigration issues at your sheriff's department," Rokita said in a press conference at the St. Joseph County-City Building.
Rokita is accusing the St. Joseph County Sheriff and police department of refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
"This deliberate decision to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities is giving safe harbor to criminal aliens that need to be removed from our country and this county," Rokita said. "It is making St. Joseph County act as a magnet to attract more illegals to want to come and live here and commit crime here."
Many, showing concern after this move, like Rudy Monterrosa from the Indiana Latino Bar Association.
"Much of the comments that the attorney general made today seek to have a chilling effect on our immigrant community, and I believe that this lawsuit is misplaced, I believe that our funds could be used better, and I believe that it lacks heart and consideration of our immigrant populations," he said.
Rokita said he believes local law enforcement is complicit in upholding "sanctuary city" policies, something he also publicly alleged in October, posting a letter to the department on X.
"It's sad, but the local law enforcement here has become part of the problem, a big part, and I refuse, as your attorney general, to just stand by and watch the lawlessness happen from law enforcement officials," Rokita said.
The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office released a statement in response to the lawsuit, which states in part:
"He stated he talked to Sheriff Redman multiple times, which is false. The sheriff has never even spoken to Todd Rokita. He stated that we do not cooperate with ICE, which is false. We regularly communicate with ICE. 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.
"We also remind the attorney general that neither state or federal law require the sheriff or the jail to enforce federal immigration laws. Sheriff and the department fully comply with all state and federal laws and will now unfortunately have to defend itself in court against the State of Indiana."
With a lot of questions in the air, ABC57's Annie Kate asked Monterrosa what he would say to immigrant families.
"We are not alone," he said. "We are here to stay, and we will continue to fight, not alone, but together as a community."