Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has announced that his office has entered into an official Section 287(g) partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), expanding state investigators’ legal authority to assist in federal immigration enforcement and deportation operations.
The agreement, authorized under Section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, allows designated investigators within the Attorney General’s Office to receive federal training and work directly alongside ICE agents. State officials say the move is designed to strengthen enforcement of Indiana’s FAIRNESS Act, state legislation written and backed by Rokita’s office earlier this year to combat illegal immigration statewide.
“Partnering with federal law enforcement is a key part of how we deport illegal aliens under the FAIRNESS Act, which we helped write and support,” Rokita said in a statement. “A 287(g) agreement with ICE does exactly that-giving our investigators greater ability to work side by side with them and take stronger action to protect Hoosiers.”
As part of the announcement, Rokita issued a direct call to local law enforcement leaders, urging all 92 Indiana county sheriffs to pursue similar formal agreements with federal authorities.
Currently, only six county sheriffs in Indiana have active 287(g) partnerships with ICE-a statistic Rokita characterized as a missed opportunity for local public safety.
“Every county sheriff across the state should be-and can be-doing what we’re doing, and what sheriffs across the nation are doing,” Rokita stated. “The fact that only six of our 92 sheriffs have signed an agreement like this shows there are missed opportunities for Indiana to enhance the tools they have to protect and serve.”
Rokita called on the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association to actively assist member offices in joining the federal program. He also encouraged residents to question their local elected law enforcement officials if their department has not yet partnered with ICE.
Addressing potential local budget concerns, the Attorney General argued that 287(g) agreements do not divert resources away from local police work. Instead, Rokita claimed the federal partnership opens avenues for local departments to access federal grants and funding streams, which could ultimately help offset local property tax burdens.
“Agreements like these do not take away from local law enforcement; they only add to their ability to keep communities safe,” Rokita said. “They also open up opportunities to obtain federal funding to enhance public safety, so it helps with your local property taxes. It doesn’t cost more.”
Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act allows the federal government to delegate specific immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement officers. Under certified agreements, trained local officers can perform functions such as interrogating individuals regarding immigration status, issuing detainers, and processing individuals for removal while held in local custody.
The agreement follows the enactment of Indiana’s FAIRNESS Act, which strengthened state anti-sanctuary policies, mandated local compliance with ICE detainer requests, and granted the Attorney General’s Office expanded legal authority to pursue civil actions against municipalities or entities that impede federal immigration enforcement.
