Indy Standard

The Indiana House of Representatives has approved a bill introduced by State Representative Garrett Bascom, requiring law enforcement officers to report individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following certain arrests.

House Bill 1393 mandates that those arrested for either misdemeanor or felony offenses be reported to ICE if there is probable cause to believe they are in the country unlawfully. Bascom stated, "It is always our hope that those who come to this country are here in good faith to work, learn and thrive. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and we need to be able to identify those bad actors so that we can make our communities safer for everyone."

Bascom also noted that this legislation could complement recent federal laws such as the Laken Riley Act, which recently passed through Congress. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between state and federal law enforcement agencies in identifying and potentially removing harmful individuals from Indiana communities.

The bill received bipartisan support in the House with a vote of 67-26 and will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. For more information on the bill and legislative session updates, visit iga.in.gov.