Op-Ed: Fear does not equal good policy
Title: Fear does not equal good policy
By: Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville)
Word Count: 615
The Indiana General Assembly should be focused on solving real problems for Hoosiers, not fighting proxy battles for the federal government. Yet political divisiveness remains convenient, and too often it blinds lawmakers to what actually serves Indiana’s best interests. We are sent to Indianapolis to be the voice of reason for our communities, not to chase headlines or rehearse national talking points.
Right now, immigration has become the centerpiece of a misguided state agenda that wrongly paints our neighbors as a drain on taxpayers and a burden on public services. That framing leans on fear and exclusion instead of facts. Immigrants are part of why communities across Indiana are growing, working and moving forward.
Does implementing aggressive state immigration policies solve anything? No. It fractures families, disrupts communities and distracts us from meaningful reform.
Immigration touches nearly every corner of our economy - health care, manufacturing, agriculture and construction, to name a few. These industries rely on real people doing real work that keeps Indiana running. Yet we continue to debate policies that treat human beings as statistics or political leverage instead of neighbors deserving dignity.
Legislative decisions driven by fear, misinformation or national rhetoric do not strengthen our state. They shatter families. They deepen mistrust. And, they move us further away from practical solutions.
Let me be clear: there is a better way to approach immigration policy without being cruel, irrational or disruptive. Senate Bill 76 is political messaging disguised as reform. It inserts Indiana into a complicated federal system without offering meaningful solutions. At the same time, it suggests that our law enforcement agencies are somehow failing in their duties. That is a disservice to the men and women who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe.
There has been no comprehensive economic study evaluating how SB 76 would affect Indiana. That matters. We should understand how immigrant workers contribute to our workforce and tax base, but we must also recognize that their value extends far beyond economics. These are families, neighbors and community members. They deserve to be treated with dignity, not reduced to talking points.
Meanwhile, Indiana is still owed an undisclosed amount of federal funding for housing detainees at the Miami Correctional Facility. Hoosiers are footing the bill while Washington delays reimbursement. That is a serious fiscal issue, yet it receives far less attention than political theater.
All of this is happening while families across Indiana struggle with child care costs, housing affordability and access to health care. People are losing faith in government - yes, even at the state level - because they see energy poured into symbolic fights while everyday needs go unmet.
We are trying to renovate a house built on a cracked foundation. If we keep patching around the edges instead of addressing the system as a whole, the damage will only spread. Immigration reform requires thoughtful, comprehensive action at the federal level, not piecemeal state measures that divide communities and strain resources.
Indiana should be competing to improve quality of life, strengthen our workforce and support families - not racing toward policies that create fear, instability and resentment. When people come here to work, raise families and contribute to our communities, they are pursuing the same promise that built this country. The message should not be: the American Dream for me, but not for you.
I am fighting for every Hoosier because Indiana is our home. My responsibility is to protect the people who live, work and build their lives here. All of them. We can take a step back, reject harmful distractions, and pursue real, actionable solutions that strengthen our communities instead of dividing them.
That is the work Hoosiers deserve.