Bartlett admonishes ‘misplaced priorities’ upon SB 76 passage
Today, Feb. 12, the Republican supermajority of the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 76, which strips authority from local officials and shifts immigration enforcement authority to the attorney general to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests. The bill was amended in the House and now returns to the Senate.
State Rep. John L. Bartlett (D-Indianapolis) voted against the bill and issued the following statement upon its passage:
"There are ways we can uphold the rule of law without terrorizing our communities. This bill will allow poorly trained agents to go into classrooms, university campuses and government buildings to arrest people they suspect of being in this country illegally. What this really comes down to, then, is giving federal agents the green light to racially profile members of our communities and act with unilateral authority. We've all seen the videos from Minneapolis and what can happen when you allow bigotry and fear to trump common-sense and decency. As I said with the National Guard bill, I don't want the next American tragedy to happen in Indiana, and I'm concerned that this bill will lead to that happening.
"This legislation is also a blatant example of the misplaced priorities of Indiana Republicans. Hoosiers throughout the state are struggling to pay their bills and keep food on the table for their families. Nationwide, undocumented immigrants are far less likely to commit violent crimes than individuals born in the United States, and many are active participants in their community. I wish Republicans would focus their energy on a much more real threat: a state economy that prioritizes the few over the many. I was hoping the supermajority would work to strengthen Indiana's middle class, raise the minimum wage and increase housing accessibility in 2026. Senate Bill 76 is just one of many examples of their misplaced priorities and failure to lead Indiana to a more prosperous future."