Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Friday that his office has filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman and his department, alleging their persistent refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Rokita contends that the department’s actions are undermining public safety and violating state law.
Speaking at a press conference following the filing, Rokita emphasized the need for local law enforcement to comply with federal immigration policies, particularly in notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the release of undocumented immigrants and honoring ICE detainers.
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“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 a magnet for illegal immigrants and the crimes they bring with them, putting law-abiding citizens, including our children, at risk.”
Rokita stated that his office had made multiple attempts to engage with Sheriff Redman and his department to address these concerns, but their efforts were largely ignored. The lawsuit seeks to enforce Indiana state law, which requires cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
“I refuse as your attorney general to just stand by and watch the lawlessness happen from law enforcement officials,” Rokita asserted. “My office will not stop our work on this issue until the law is followed and we put our people first over illegal aliens.”
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Despite the lawsuit, Rokita expressed his continued support for law enforcement in the state. “We have a huge disagreement with Sheriff Redman and his department, but we respect our men and women in uniform and will continue to support them in court. However, we will hold those who deserve to be held accountable.”
Rokita said his office would be willing to rescind the lawsuit if the sheriff’s department takes corrective actions and begins to cooperate with ICE. He warned that failure to comply would result in further legal action and potential penalties.
“We will gladly drop this lawsuit the moment the sheriff’s department follows the law and prioritizes the safety of Hoosiers over the interests of those in the country illegally,” he stated.
The attorney general further voiced concerns that the sheriff’s department’s noncompliance is contributing to an influx of undocumented immigrants in St. Joseph County, leading to increased crime and public safety threats.
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Rokita also noted that his office is investigating potential labor trafficking networks operating in the state, following reports from residents about an increase in migrants within local communities.
The lawsuit comes as President Donald Trump’s administration rolls out its mass deportation plan. According to the White House, hundreds of undocumented immigrants have already been deported since Trump was sworn in earlier this week. The administration has directed federal agencies to prioritize cooperation with ICE and crack down on so-called sanctuary jurisdictions.
Sheriff Redman and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department have not yet issued a public response to the lawsuit.
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