Hoosiers Protest ICE Funding in New Federal Spending Bill

Indianapolis, IN – Protests took place on Sunday in Indiana in response to a newly passed federal spending package that significantly boosts funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Demonstrators gathered outside the offices of several Republican congressional members, including Senator Todd Young in Carmel, Representative Rudy Yakym in Mishawaka, and Representative Victoria Spartz. Organized by groups like the Indiana State AFL-CIO and Indivisible Central Indiana, the protests voiced strong opposition to what they call the “Big Beautiful Bill,” citing its allocation of billions for deportations, new ICE agents, and detention centers.

This comes after the White House announced Indiana’s Camp Atterbury will serve as a new ICE detention facility, drawing immediate criticism from Democratic U.S. Rep. André Carson.

Protesters are calling for a fundamental shift in government priorities, urging investment in “kitchen table issues” like education, healthcare, and food access, rather than expanded immigration enforcement. They argue that these vital community programs have been neglected under the new spending legislation.

The demonstrations highlight growing concerns over the human impact of current immigration policies and call for greater accountability in federal spending.