🚨 Community Alert: Anti-Immigration House Bill 1158 Hearing Tomorrow (1/28/25)🚨
Join us at the Indiana Statehouse on Tuesday, January 28, in room 156-C at 8:30 AM.
TLDR;
House Bill 1158 would require Indiana sheriffs to enter agreements with ICE under the 287(g) program, turning local law enforcement into federal immigration agents.
Why This is Harmful:
Encourages racial profiling and discrimination.
Erodes public trust in law enforcement.
Puts law enforcement agencies at risk of costly lawsuits.
Burdens taxpayers with exorbitant implementation costs.
📍 Join Us Tomorrow to Oppose HB 1158
🗓️ Tuesday, January 28
⏰ 8:30 AM
🏛️ Indiana State House, Room 156-C
If you’re able, please join us in testifying against this harmful bill. Sharing your voice is powerful, and personal stories make a lasting impact.
What to Expect at the State House:
If you’re attending the hearing, note HB 1158 will be called after two other bills. Room 156-C at the Indiana State House is small; overflow attendees may be redirected. Bring signs and be ready to testify or show your support!
Together, we fight back! ✊
Friends and allies, thank you again for following and supporting the Indiana Latino Democratic Caucus’ (INLDC) efforts to inform the public about legislation affecting our immigrant and Latino communities.
Things are fast-moving, and legislators emboldened by Trump, show no signs of slowing down:
HB 1158: The Next Step in Indiana’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda
Indiana Republicans are ramping up their anti-immigrant efforts with HB 1158. If passed, this bill would mandate every sheriff in the state to enter into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the 287(g) program. This would require local law enforcement to carry out federal immigration duties, including enforcing federal immigration laws.
This is just one of nearly 20 anti-immigration bills introduced this session. To help you stay informed, we’ll discuss HB 1158 and other bills during INLDC’s Legislative Update on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 12 PM. Register here.
Racial Profiling, Exorbitant Costs, and Breakdown in Trust
This bill is troubling for several reasons: it encourages racial profiling and discrimination, imposes substantial financial burdens, exposes law enforcement agencies to liability, and further erodes public trust in these institutions. The cruel and troubling consequences of entering into these programs have been well-documented, including through investigations by The Department of Justice (DOJ).
If passed, the potential outcomes are alarming:
Will law enforcement establish checkpoints at the entrances of Latino neighborhoods, as seen with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina?
Will law enforcement conduct “sweeps” in Latino communities, similar to the actions of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in Arizona?
Will individuals who criticize or oppose this unconstitutional policing face retaliation, harassment, or even arrests, as occurred under MCSO's patterns of behavior?
These documented practices highlight the deep risks associated with this legislation and the potential for widespread harm to communities across Indiana.
Also, who is going to pay for all of this?
Despite promises of increased federal funding, “the federal government has never fully funded [these programs], and reimbursement only cover a fraction of the costs incurred by states and localities.”
Concerns over costs incurred by law enforcement agencies are echoed by Indiana law enforcement officials. In fact, municipalities often cite the high costs of implementing this type of program and the costs associated with litigation to defend lawsuits as reasons for terminating their agreements. As with other counties, the expense of these programs will likely fall on Hoosier taxpayers:
Are rural Indiana counties prepared to raise property taxes or deplete their “rainy day” funds to implement the 287(g) program, as Prince William County (PWC), Virginia did in 2016?
A PWC report found the program cost $6.4 million in its first year and would total $26 million over five years. With Indiana’s tight compliance deadlines, are counties ready to face similar expenses? Will rural counties have the funds to meet these demands?
Before DHS revoked its 287(g) agreement with Maricopa County, Arizona in 2011, Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s office created a $1.3 million deficit in just three months, much of it due to overtime.
Are Indiana counties ready to defend inevitable litigation?
Take Action Now:
Join Us on February 6 at 12 PM for a Legislative Update: Learn about House Bill 1393 and over 20 anti-immigration bills impacting Indiana. Register here.
Contact Your Representative: Use this map to identify your House representative and reach out via phone or email. Share your personal story and explain why this bill affects you.
Spread Awareness and Share Resources: Share what’s happening and why it matters, encouraging others to take action. Equip your community with tools and resources to navigate these challenges. [Access resources here].
Thank you to the Alliance for Latino Migrant Advocacy for providing the graphic above.
Spanish translation is forthcoming.
If you would like to testify, please sign up here: https://iga.in.gov/2025/committees/house/local-government. You can also email us at info@inlatinodems.com.
I would love to be there, pero no puedo. :(