Indiana Attorney General investigating if Seymour is acting as a sanctuary city

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Amid ongoing national controversy over the issue of illegal immigration, the city of Seymour has become the latest focal point, this time with a civil investigative demand issued by the Indiana Attorney General to the city to make sure they’re in compliance with immigration policy.

Surprised is where officials in Seymour find themselves after receiving a 14-page demand from the state’s top prosecutor. The demand requires the city to produce three years worth of documentation and data points focused on immigration, essentially to find out if Seymour is acting as a sanctuary city.

For instance, they have been asked to produce any policies and procedures, on and off the books, about how they gather immigration information and report it to immigration enforcement.

“Our policies, procedures and ordinances have not changed regarding immigration enforcement or cooperation with our partners at all,” City Attorney Christina Engleking said, adding that the police chief has a continued working relationship with retired ICE agents who worked in the area.

The city will also need to produce data on anyone who may have broken the law for a very specific crime, driving without a license, as well as all misdemeanor violations with the exception of driving without a license.

“Arrest statistics is going to take quite some time,” Engleking said. “I think roughly 250 some-odd man hours to pull three years worth of records.”

It’s unclear why Attorney General Todd Rokita wants that specific data, but what he has made clear is why the investigation is happening.

“We are working to ensure units of local government are following the law,” he said in a statement. “We are putting Hoosiers first, not illegal aliens.”

Census data from 2020 reflects a large Hispanic population in Seymour, making up about 13% of the city’s total population.

Rokita was only recently granted the authority by state lawmakers to investigate and compel local governments and bring enforceable action against them for ordinances that allow for a limit on immigration investigations.

There have been similar demands issued to other cities in Indiana, including East Chicago, which had a ‘welcoming city ordinance,’ essentially making it a sanctuary city. The demand and a pending lawsuit forced the city to walk that policy back.

Engleking said the city has never had such an ordinance enacted.

Engleking said the investigative demand has led to mixed reaction from residents, some in support and others just confused.

“I’m all for transparency and letting folks know what does and does not go on in SPD,” she said. “And others are puzzled as to why we would be receiving this demand, but that’s not really up to me to figure out. My job is to help the SPD comply and to work with my partners up in Indianapolis to get this resolved.”

An investigative demand was also issued to South Bend the same day as Seymour. Both cities have until Nov. 8 to comply.

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