Harris votes ‘no’ on Senate immigration bill

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. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), voted against the bill and issued the following statement upon its passage:

"I came to the Statehouse this year with the hopes of addressing Indiana's rising cost of living, our mess of a health care system and to make homeownership a viable possibility for young Hoosiers. I didn't come here to make it easier for federal agents to wreak havoc in our communities.

“I'm a proud Black and Latino lawmaker, and I know exactly what this bill will lead to: federal agents will be given unilateral authority to racially profile Hoosiers under the guise of immigration enforcement. As a representative from one of the most diverse areas of the state, I'm afraid this bill will directly impact many of our neighbors. All Hoosiers deserve the dignity of not having to live in fear just going about their business in their community. As this bill heads back to the Senate, I urge my colleagues in the other chamber to do the right thing and not let this bill reach the governor's desk."