Indianapolis leaders call for answers on surge in ICE activity
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Local leaders are calling for transparency from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a dramatic increase in immigration action around Indianapolis over the past week.
The big picture: Indianapolis is the latest city to see a surge in immigration arrests this summer, an operation that's swept up thousands of people.
- A majority of the July arrests were people accused of civil immigration violations with no criminal charges or convictions, according to a New York Times analysis.
- Overall, immigration arrests rose to record highs with 43,000 ICE arrests in June and 49,000 in July, according to the Times.
- Fewer than 4% had a past violent criminal conviction.
Driving the news: Immigration watchers began reporting ICE agents making stops across the city Aug. 31.
- Cell phone video captured agents chasing a man across several lanes of traffic on the east side. The man took off running when agents tried to take him into custody.
- Witnesses watched another arrest at an east side gas station and another video showed agents taking a man into custody along Rockville Road on the west side.
- ICE action has also been reported in Carmel and Westfield.
What they're saying: City officials said the increase in ICE activity was carried out "without any advance notice … and without transparency about procedures or intent."
- "This lack of communication is unacceptable and is causing confusion and fear among our neighbors," Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a statement.
- "While immigration enforcement is under the authority of the federal government, the City of Indianapolis will continue to demand transparency, due process and clear communication regarding federal actions," he added.
- IMPD is not participating in federal immigration enforcement, Hogsett said.
U.S. Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.) submitted a Congressional inquiry about the surge in activity to the Department of Homeland Security.
- Carson demanded answers on the scope and probable cause for ICE's apparent increased enforcement, including the number of agents and agencies participating, the number of people detained or arrested in Indianapolis this year and other details about ICE activity in Marion County.
- Indiana Senate Democrats Shelli Yoder, Andrea Hunley, La Keisha Jackson and Fady Qaddoura issued a statement of support for Carson's demand.
The other side: U.S. Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) told local media last week that ICE agents were doing their job.
- "I think it's incumbent on all of us, as leaders, to support the mission of ICE," he said.
- A DHS spokesperson told local media that"ICE agents uphold our nation's immigration laws in all 50 states, seven days a week, 24 hours a day."
The latest: Demonstrators protested over the weekend outside the federal agency's Indianapolis office to oppose the surge in ICE activity locally.