The Republican-controlled legislature of Indiana has just passed Senate Bill 76, which will compel all local units of government in Indiana — including public schools and universities — to assist without question ICE-related federal agencies in carrying out any “lawful” task. The legislation also enhances the power of Attorney General Todd Rokita to enforce the provisions of the measure.
Based on the continuing cruel brutality of unfettered ICE agents in major cities across the U.S., this should strike fear and trepidation into anyone with a moral or legal conscience as to what might be required of them as a State government employee, as well as for the potentially traumatic effects on Indiana students.
It is mind-bending that Indiana legislators would call for unquestioned obedience to an organization that has, time and again, been documented to neither give unquestioned allegiance to the constitutional rights accorded to everyone who lives in this country, nor to the findings and directions of our state and federal court systems.
The new legislation includes the caveat of unquestioned compliance for “any lawful task.” So when it is already known that ICE actually carries out unlawful violations of the Constitution as per state and federal court rulings, government employees are being set up to be intimidated to serve as accomplices to unlawful, not to mention immoral, behavior.
What kind of unforeseen, unanticipated, and nightmarish events might there be in the near future if this legislation is signed into law by Gov. Mike Braun?
What is to stop ICE from wanting access to school grounds, entering school buildings and grabbing students who they believe to be undocumented, or who could lead them to their parents, family members or friends?
What is to stop ICE from requiring teachers and school administrators to abandon their responsibility to keep students safe, or to sever trusting relationships with their students by providing information about their immigration status, family or residence?
What about the demands that will be put on our police and first responders? To what extent will they be required to stand idly by when ICE behaves unlawfully right in front of them? What about the loss of services to our communities when law enforcement and first responders are diverted away to support ICE?
Will Attorney General Rokita provide unquestioned compliance with the U.S. Constitution and the rulings of state and federal courts when determining what is defined as a “lawful” task demanded by ICE? Or, will he be inclined to rashly respond similarly to former Customs and Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem?
Based on everything that has been publicly documented and visible to the public eye about the bullish, cruel, lawless, and unaccountable behavior of ICE and CBP agents, is this the kind of society we want to see America become?
Do Indiana government employees want to be accomplices to this kind of behavior? Why is the brutally cruel current behavior of ICE the only way to solve the issue of undocumented immigrants?
Is America becoming a place where reasonable, humane, lawful respect for human rights and respect for our Constitution and courts is abandoned? Will Americans really turn their backs on the hard-working, family-loving, rule-following immigrants in this country who have been drawn here by the principles and promises of our Constitution and only want to become citizens themselves by following all appropriate procedures and requirements to accomplish that?
Of utmost importance, our schools, staff and children must remain safe from both mental and physical anguish. There is absolutely no justification for ICE to ever invade schools, school grounds, or bus stops to create trauma for the students and children of Indiana.
Contact Governor Braun at 317-232-4567 to urge him to veto the bill.
Dr. Tony Lux is a board member of the Indiana Coalition for Public Education and the NWI Coalition for Public Education and a retired Superintendent of Merrillville Community Schools.
