Irvington United Methodist Church senior pastor Sunil Kotian doesn't know whether his wife and children will still be with him in Indianapolis next week.

Why it matters: The Kotian family's ordeal offers a window into a strained legal immigration system, with fallout now reaching a tight-knit congregation in one of Indy's most historic neighborhoods.

• The uncertainty also threatens to separate the family for a second time: They spent four years apart because of visa delays during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kotian, who came to Indianapolis from India in 2018 on a student visa to attend Christian Theological Seminary, became Irvington United Methodist Church's senior pastor in 2024.

• His green card application is progressing, but U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last month denied applications for his wife, Lois, and two of their children, notifying them they would be considered unlawfully present after a 30-day deadline expires tomorrow.

Yes, but: Kotian told Axios this week that the denial letter contains neither an explicit deportation order nor clear instructions on what they must do.

• The only alternative offered — reopening the case — could take 10 months, leaving the family in unlawful status long before any resolution.
• Axios has reached out to USCIS for clarification about the family's case and did not receive a receive an update before publication.

Zoom out: NPR recently found nearly 12 million immigration applications awaiting decisions at USCIS, a backlog immigration attorneys say leaves many families stuck in legal limbo.

Zoom in: Lois Kotian told Axios that the congregation of Irvington UMC, one of the neighborhood's oldest institutions, has showered the family with support, including contacting lawmakers on their behalf.

• They receive 50 to 80 messages daily from concerned neighbors, but the uncertainty makes it impossible to tell supporters how to help.
• "Not knowing has all of us tied up in knots," she said.

Go deeper

Welcome back to Axios Indianapolis' "30 Over 30," a series celebrating the icons that have shaped our city for 30 years or more.

After nearly six decades, Tibbs Drive-in stands on the west side as Indy's last drive-in theater and perhaps the city's most effective time machine.

Why it matters: Affordable family fun in this economy?! Unheard of.

• Despite ownership changes and facility upgrades, Tibbs has stayed true to its mission of delivering big-screen thrills and powerful nostalgia without breaking the bank.

Flashback: United Artists Theatres opened Tibbs Drive-In on June 7, 1967, as a single-screen theater with a double feature of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "The Fortune Cookie."

The latest: Tibbs opened its 2026 season in April at its original 24-acre home at 480 S. Tibbs Ave., which now spans four screens after additions in 1975 and 1999.

💭 Justin's thought bubble: It's been nearly a decade since I've been to Tibbs, and my last trip there was work-related.

• The drought was even longer for my wife, who hasn't been to any drive-in since catching the 1991 release of "Boyz n the Hood" at our now-demolished hometown theater in Cleveland.

Yes, but: Pulling into Tibbs last weekend for a Sunday night double feature of "Mortal Kombat II" and "One Spoon Of Chocolate" felt like driving directly into the early 90s.

• Or 60s. Or 70s. Or the 80s. Your flavor of nostalgia will be hard-coded to whatever era you spent hanging out in theater parking lots, waiting for the sun to go down before showtime.

How it works

🐶 The new Indianapolis Animal Care Services shelter is officially open. City officials held a ribbon-cutting yesterday for the state-of-the-art facility.

• As the agency transitions to its new home, it's reinstituting adoption fees that had been suspended. Adoption fees are now $60 per animal. (WTHR)

🏘️ Indianapolis Public Schools is transferring unused property to Habitat for Humanity to support the construction of 16 new affordable homes. (Chalkbeat Indiana)

🛍️ Three home stores and two restaurants are among the planned additions to the Fashion Mall. The north side shopping area is redeveloping the space formerly occupied by Saks Fifth Avenue. (IBJ)

🏈 The Colts are going to London, taking on the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Stadium Oct. 4. The team announced the international game yesterday. (WRTV)

Sixteen artists and nonprofits have been awarded more than $140,000 from the Indy Arts Council to create accessible arts and culture experiences throughout the city.

Why it matters: The projects taking place between now and next April are being funded in response to studies that say more than half of Central Indiana residents engage in local art via public spaces.

Zoom in: Officials say a total of $142,775 was awarded, but the more than $687,649 requested by 81 eligible applicants demonstrates the need for local arts support.

• Grant awards range from $2,000 to $10,000.

What they're saying: "This program continues to demonstrate the strong demand for accessible arts experiences across Indianapolis," Indy Arts Council president and CEO Judith Thomas said in a statement released Tuesday.

The recipients and their projects

"Why not?"

It's 2026 and there are still "firsts," y'all.

Driving the news: Katherine Legge, the only woman in this year's Indy 500 field, announced yesterday that she's doing "the double," racing in NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte hours after the Indianapolis 500.

• She's the first woman and only the sixth person to attempt the feat, which would have her completing 1,100 miles of racing in two different race cars should she finish both races.

What she's saying: "I was very grateful just to be back here at the Indy 500," Legge said in a trackside interview with FOX Sports. "Just to be able to do this is incredible. To be able to do both on the same day is kind of crazy. But it's also awesome."