Indiana Senate sends immigration enforcement bill to the governor

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — All governmental bodies would have to comply with immigration detainers under a bill that the Senate gave final approval to Wednesday evening.

In its final form, the bill requires all governmental bodies, including school corporations, to comply with immigration detainers and inform judges in writing about the immigration status of anyone who is subject to a detainer. The bill prohibits employers from knowingly recruiting, hiring or employing someone who is not authorized to work in the United States. In addition, the bill authorizes the attorney general to defend any agency that faces a lawsuit over its enforcement of immigration laws.

The Department of Correction would work on training requirements for county jails on how to deal with immigration cases.

The House added language to require monthly reports to the State Budget Committee on federal reimbursements from use of the Miami Correctional Facility by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Senate Democrats said the bill would erode community trust in law enforcement and open up schools and other agencies to legal liabilities. Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, who is a former school principal, said she fears forcing schools to divulge student information to ICE agents would violate the Family Educationa...