Why Indiana’s Attorney General is Suing the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Source: (PHOTO: Todd Rokita)
MONROE COUNTY, Ind.–Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. He claims that sheriff’s office is not complying with state laws governing the enforcement of federal immigration regulations.
Rokita says local governments cannot enact policies restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities or limit the enforcement of federal immigration laws. At this juncture, he believes the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is undermining state sovereignty and not following state law.
In the complaint, Rokita says he sent a letter to the Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marte and urged him to rescind any policies that were inconsistent with following state laws, but Marte proceeded with his own implementation.
“After filing a lawsuit against East Chicago earlier this week, I am now taking similar action in Monroe County over an ‘Immigration and Citizenship Status’ policy, which we find also violates state law. After multiple conversations with the Sheriff’s Office to rescind its illegal policy, it didn’t work, and now my office is taking the next step to enforce state law as passed by the General Assembly. Illegal immigration is unfair to those who came here the right way and to the hardworking Hoosiers who are bearing increased costs for health care, education and other services used by illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here,” said Rokita.
Rokita also says he’s not stopping there.
“We will continue evaluating other local units of government and ensuring the law is followed,” said Rokita.
You can hear Rokita’s full statement below.
