Indiana AG takes legal action against local sheriff for ‘giving safe harbor to criminal aliens’

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, a Republican, has filed a lawsuit against a county sheriff for disobeying President Donald Trump’s immigration orders.

“I filed a lawsuit against St. Joseph County Sheriff [William] Redman and his department over their persistent practice of refusing to cooperate with federal immigration authorities,” Rokita told reporters at the press conference this Friday in South Bend.

“This includes refusing to notify ICE properly about the release of illegal aliens and also refusing to honor ICE detainers. This deliberate decision to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities is giving safe harbor to criminal aliens that need to be removed from our country and this county,” he added.

Listen:

“It’s sad, but the local law enforcement here has become part of the problem — a big part,” Rokita continued. “And I refuse as your attorney general to just stand by and watch the lawlessness happen from law enforcement officials.”

According to Assistant Chief Deputy Blake Lanning, Redman refused to comply with nearly a dozen detainer requests last year.

“We know between March and September of 2024, six-month period last year, there were nine detainer requests according to ICE, federal authorities that were sent to St. Joseph County sheriff, not complied with,” Lanning announced at Friday’s presser. “As a result, thwarted ICE’s efforts to apprehend illegal aliens that were in this county.”

The St. Joseph County Police Department has, for its part, released a  lengthy statement claiming it does work with immigration officials:

The Indiana Attorney General once again decided to hold a press conference…

Posted by St. Joseph County Police Department on Friday, January 24, 2025

“[The Indiana AG] stated that we do not cooperate with ICE, which is false,” the statement reads. “We regularly communicate with ICE. When the jail receives a detainer or request from ICE, staff promptly informs immigration officials when that individual will be released on their criminal charges for detainment by ICE.”

Yet in the same statement, Redman’s department bragged about not being required to abide by federal immigration laws.

“We also remind the Attorney General that neither state or federal law require the Sheriff or the Jail to enforce federal immigration laws,” the statement reads. “Sheriff and the department fully comply with all state and federal laws, and will now unfortunately have to defend itself in court against the State of Indiana.”

Rokita’s lawsuit is backed by St. Joseph County Commissioners Carl Baxmeyer and Tony Hazen, who released a statement slamming Redman for not doing his job, according to local station WNDU.

“As St. Joseph County’s chief executives, we are seriously concerned about what IN Attorney General Todd Rokita has brought to light: that the St. Joseph County Police pushes policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities,” they said. “Failing to honor detainment requests for individuals who have committed serious crimes is reckless and a threat to all of us.”

“Law enforcement is not above the law. We are calling on Sherriff Bill Redman to put St. Joseph County citizens first, to enforce the law, and make sure his policies — whether written or unwritten — comply with federal regulation rules. We are not a sanctuary county, and St. Joseph County residents deserve the right to basic safety,” they added.

Redman, meanwhile, is backed by Rudy Monterrosa of the Indiana Latino Bar Association.

“By coming here and talking about immigrants, by vilifying immigrants, what we’re doing is we’re having a chilling effect with regard to those who may still be going through the process, with regard to those who are here legally and with regard to those who have families that come from mixed statuses,” he complained after Friday’s presser.

All this comes as President Donald Trump tries to crack down on all the illegal migration that occurred during former President Joe Biden’s disastrous presidency.

“TODAY: The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Twitter/X this week.

“The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway,” she added.

Vivek Saxena

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