Campbell condemns House passage of immigration bill allowing ICE to enter schools and universities

Today, Feb. 12, Senate Bill 76 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 60-28. Since the bill was amended, it heads back to the Senate for their review of the changes before it heads to the governor’s desk. 

SB 76 aligns state entities with current federal policy regarding undocumented immigration. Public schools and universities would be required to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, inviting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) into K-12 classrooms and college campuses. It would also empower Indiana’s attorney general to seek civil suits of up to $10,000 for violating these policies.

State Rep. Chris Campbell (D-West Lafayette) released the following statement: 

“This bill invites chaos into our communities by forcing cooperation with ICE. Republicans promise to focus on violent criminals, but ICE hasn’t held itself to that mission. We’ve watched agents racially profile, escalate tense situations, make wrongful arrests and kill U.S. citizens. 

“Why would you invite that behavior into our schools? Into our universities? ICE has no business arresting children, and doing so on school grounds should be completely out of the question. Young children shouldn’t live in fear of being arrested by armed, masked agents.

“Our international students shouldn’t live in fear either. They’re not criminals. They’re smart, law-abiding visa holders. ICE has already made a mistake with a Purdue student. Last August, they wrongfully detained a pharmacy student for five days. 

“ICE’s behavior doesn’t belong in our schools, universities or hospitals. Regardless of their immigration status, people deserve to be treated with respect, especially our young people.”