Bascom's Bill on Law Enforcement Cooperation with ICE After Certain Arrests Advances

Friday, January 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM

By State Rep. Garrett Bascom, news release

Bascom said this bill could work in tandem with recent federal laws, including the Laken Riley Act, which recently passed through Congress.

INDIANAPOLIS - State Rep. Garrett Bascom's (R-Lawrenceburg) bill requiring law enforcement officers to report suspected illegal immigrants that have been arrested for a crime to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency passed out of committee today with bipartisan support.

Bascom said House Bill 1393 would require any law enforcement officer who arrests an individual for a misdemeanor or felony offense to report the individual to ICE if the officer has probable cause to believe the individual was here unlawfully.

"In Indiana, we welcome anyone who wants to work, live and thrive in our local communities," Bascom said. "Unfortunately, some of these individuals who come to the United States are not here in good faith, and this common-sense bill would allow our local law enforcement agencies to help our federal government root out bad actors that have been arrested for crimes."

Bascom said this bill could work in tandem with recent federal laws, including the Laken Riley Act, which recently passed through Congress. He also said that by sharing information with ICE, both state and federal law enforcement officials can work together to find and potentially remove bad actors from Indiana communities.

House Bill 1393 passed the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety committee by a vote of 9-2 and now moves to the House for further consideration. To learn more about the bill and follow session, visit iga.in.gov.