Elkhart Sheriff's Coordination with ICE Raises Constitutional Concern

Affiliate: ACLU of Indiana
January 9, 2020 4:30 pm


ACLU Affiliate
ACLU of Indiana
Media Contact
125 Broad Street
18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
United States

INDIANAPOLIS – It is voluntary for Elkhart County law enforcement to work with ICE, absent a judicial warrant. This type of coordination with ICE discourages immigrants — along with their U.S.-citizen children, neighbors, co-workers, and friends — from reporting crimes and serving as witnesses, creating more fear and less cooperation with local police.

ICE’s use of detainers to imprison people without due process and, in many cases, without any charges pending or probable cause of any violation has raised serious constitutional concerns. The ACLU recommends that law enforcement agencies decline to effectuate any ICE detainer request absent a judicial warrant in order to minimize the risk and liability of holding a person in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.

The Latest in Immigrants' Rights

ACLU's Vision

The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.

Learn More About Immigrants' Rights

Immigration Rights issue image

The fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.