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VERSION:2.0
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X-WR-CALNAME:Attorney General Todd Rokita sues Merrillville for illegal int
 erference with immigration enforcement\, effectively aiding and abetting c
 riminal aliens in the region 
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260913T231053Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_53569195890041
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260730
DESCRIPTION:Attorney General Todd Rokita sues Merrillville for illegal inte
 rference with immigration enforcement\, effectively aiding and abetting cr
 iminal aliens in the region \n\nIn the first enforcement action taken unde
 r the new authorities created by the FAIRNESS Act\, Attorney General Todd 
 Rokita today filed a lawsuit against the Town Council of Merrillville over
  the Council’s unlawful actions to interfere with U.S. Immigration and C
 ustoms Enforcement’s (ICE) effort to create new detention space for ille
 gal aliens. \n\nAs the Trump Administration undertakes largescale deportat
 ion operations\, federal authorities have sought to expand the detention s
 pace available to hold illegal aliens. Adequate detention space is critica
 l for effective immigration enforcement. That is why Congress has appropri
 ated billions of dollars since President Trump took office to fund new det
 ention capacity and ICE has sought to acquire property to create new deten
 tion facilities.  \n\nMerrillville is one site where ICE has worked to acq
 uire property to create a new detention facility that would support its en
 forcement activities.  However\, the Town Council of Merrillville has oppo
 sed the establishment of new detention space in the Town and pursued a con
 certed and coordinated course of action to pressure Merrillville property 
 owners not to sell to ICE\, thereby thwarting its efforts. The Council’s
  actions violate state law.   \n\nOn June 24\, 2026\, the Attorney General
 ’s Office issued a cease-and-desist letter directing Merrillville to com
 e into compliance with state law by ceasing all efforts to frustrate and i
 mpede property sales to ICE and making clear to property owners that the T
 own would not retaliate against anyone who sells property to federal autho
 rities. \n\nThe Town Council refused to comply and made clear that it is d
 oubling down on its unlawful course of conduct.   \n\n“We requested that
  Merrillville comply with state law and they refused\, choosing instead to
  play games\, effectively aid and abet criminal illegal aliens\, and makin
 g the illegals’ evasion of justice a higher priority than the safety of 
 taxpayers throughout the region\,” said Attorney General Rokita. “That
 ’s illegal under Indiana law.” \n\nThe lawsuit seeks to compel full co
 mpliance with state law and impose civil penalties on the Council for its 
 illegal actions. \n\nThe lawsuit continues the Attorney General’s robust
  enforcement of Indiana’s anti-sanctuary law and furthers the State’s 
 commitment to support federal deportation efforts and protect the public f
 rom illegal aliens. \n\nThe Federation for American Immigration Reform\, w
 hich assisted in the development of the FAIRNESS Act and is serving as out
 side counsel to the Attorney General on anti-sanctuary matters\, voiced st
 rong support for the action.  \n\n“The Federation for American Immigrati
 on Reform was proud to work with Attorney General Rokita to enact the FAIR
 NESS Act and is pleased to assist him as outside counsel as he exercises h
 is authority under the new law to stop unlawful attempts by local governme
 nts to interfere with federal immigration enforcement\,” Dale Wilcox\, E
 xecutive Director\, said. “Federal efforts to expand detention space are
  essential to mass deportations\, and Merrillville’s efforts to block th
 e creation of a new detention site must be stopped.” \n\nRead the lawsui
 t here.\n\nA headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download
 .\n\n###
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Attorney General Todd Rokita sues Merrillville for illegal interfer
 ence with immigration enforcement\, effectively aiding and abetting crimin
 al aliens in the region 
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/attorney-general-todd-rokita-sues
 -merrillville-for-illegal-interference-with-immigration-enforcement-effect
 ively-aiding-and-abetting-criminal-aliens-in-the-region
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
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