Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is accusing the town of Merrillville of sabotaging real estate deals between local landlords and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
In a press release issued June 29, Rokita said his office has received reports that Merrillville officials interfered with several attempts by ICE to obtain properties for detention space within the town, following the passage of a resolution by the town’s council opposing such efforts earlier this year.
Merrillville officials allegedly contacted individuals and entities involved in potential real estate deals with ICE and property owners to discourage the transactions and prevent the immigration officials from acquiring property in the town.
“The Town’s actions have intimidated property owners, who reportedly fear reprisal from the Town, and resulted in the termination of multiple transactions through which ICE sought to acquire property for federal law enforcement purposes,” says a June 24 cease and desist letter addressed to the Merrillville’s town council.
The attorney general’s office said such practices violate an Indiana state law aimed at curtailing sanctuary cities. The cease and desist letter demanded that Merrillville official stop the alleged interference or face legal action.
Rokita also demanded that the town rescind a January resolution it passed opposing Merrillville as a potential city for expanded immigration detention and deportation activities by federal officials.
“Federal law permits ICE to acquire property to use for the detention of illegal aliens, Indiana law forbids any action by a local government entity that would limit or restrict ICE’s ability to do so,” the letter said. “Resolution No. 26-02 and the other actions Merrillville officials have taken to discourage and interfere with real estate transactions between ICE and Merrillville property owners are therefore illegal.”
Merrillville officials did not immediately respond to IndyStar’s request for comment.
The Washington Post reported in December, that according to internal government documents, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE officials had started purchasing warehouses to convert into ICE detention and processing facilities. The purchases were part of a $45 billion plan by DHS ― then headed by former Secretary Kristi Noem ― to ramp up ICE detention to hold more than 80,000 immigrants. Indianapolis was also proposed as part of ICE’s expanded detention plans.
Merrillville was identified as a potential site where an industrial facility could be converted into a 500-bed processing facility.
As in other communities across the country, however, residents and town officials, left in the dark about the plans, vocalized their opposition. Rumors swirled that ICE officials had toured a recently constructed and unoccupied 289,000 square-foot warehouse owned by Opus Development Company LLC. The company said in a letter to the town officials it was limited on what it could share, but it denied holding negotiations with ICE.
The plan stalled as it did in other communities. Under new leadership, ICE is now attempting to sell or give away some of the U.S. warehouses purchased for the expansion plans.
This wasn’t the only effort to expand detention in recent months. According to federal legal notices, DHS issued a request for information for available coworking space across 90 cities.
The agency also leased office space in Carmel for administrative employees, sparking backlash from residents and questions from officials.
Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Alexandria Burris at aburris@indystar..com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @allyburris.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Rokita orders Indiana town to stop its ‘sabotage’ of ICE real estate deals
Reporting by Alexandria Burris, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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By Alexandria Burris, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
