Immigration enforcement bill clears Indiana Senate amid national ICE controversy

INDIANAPOLIS (INDIANA CAPITAL CHRONICLE) — A Republican-backed immigration enforcement bill that expands local cooperation with federal authorities and penalizes noncompliance cleared the Indiana Senate on Monday along party lines.

Senate Bill 76 passed 37–7, with all “no” votes coming from Democrats. Five senators were excused and did not vote. The bill now heads to the House.

The vote comes as immigration enforcement — particularly actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE — has sparked protests, clashes with law enforcement and heightened political tensions in several states, especially in Minnesota.

The legislation, authored by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, expands requirements for state and local governments to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, particularly with respect to immigration detainer requests — and it gives Indiana new tools to penalize local entities that fail to comply.

“Senate Bill 76...