State Rep. Garrett Bascom’s bill to enhance immigration enforcement has been approved by the legislature and is now with the governor for consideration. The legislation mandates that jail or detention center officials notify the county sheriff if there is probable cause to suspect that an arrestee is illegally in the U.S. The sheriff is then required to inform federal authorities. According to Bascom, the bill applies only to people arrested for either misdemeanor or felony offenses.
“This bill is an important step in helping enforce our immigration laws,” Bascom stated. “It ensures law enforcement officers are working together to identify bad actors and keep our communities safe.”
He also indicated that this state-level action could function in conjunction with federal statutes such as the Laken Riley Act, which was recently passed by Congress. By facilitating information sharing, the bill aims to enable state and federal law enforcement to collaborate in identifying and possibly removing offenders from Indiana communities.
For more information on House Enrolled Act 1393 and other legislation, the public is advised to visit iga.in.gov.
