The Vanderburgh County Sheriff has weighed in on why local law enforcement did not assist in the recent ICE raids. WNIN’s John Gibson has more:
Sheriff Noah Robinson says in Indiana, a sheriff’s authority to arrest an unauthorized immigrant is limited by both federal and state law.
He says the sheriff’s office has no “general authority” to enforce immigration law.
Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility handled by agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement – commonly known as ICE.
Robinson notes a sheriff’s deputy can arrest an undocumented immigrant if that person is suspected of or has committed a state or local crime, just like any other person.
But the arrest is based on the criminal offense, not immigration status alone.
If ICE places a detainer on an individual already in custody, Indiana sheriffs may elect to honor the detainer, depending on the circumstances.
Robinson says Vanderburgh County DOES honor those detainers.
He notes some jurisdictions partner with ICE under an agreement that allows certain trained deputies to enforce limited federal immigration laws.
But the program does not give local sheriffs the authority to arrest for immigration violations in public, only within the confines of the jail.