Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté, accusing the sheriff’s office of violating state law in its handling of immigration enforcement.
The legal complaint, filed on July 11, 2024, by Rokita and the State of Indiana, claims that Sheriff Marté and his department breached Indiana law by changing their standard operating procedure (SOP) on June 29, 2024. According to the complaint, the new policy limits the sheriff’s office from cooperating fully with federal immigration authorities, in violation of Indiana Code 5-2-18.2-3.
The state law prohibits law enforcement officers from enacting or implementing policies that restrict them from taking actions related to citizenship or immigration status. Despite receiving multiple written warnings, Rokita alleges that the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office continued to implement the new procedure.
“They specifically say in their policy that they don’t have to assist with reasonable requests from other law enforcement partners,” said Rokita. “That’s a problem, as it’s considered harboring an illegal alien, and under Indiana law, it’s illegal to do that.”
Rokita emphasized that enforcing immigration laws remains a top priority for his office. He further criticized the federal government’s handling of border security, stating, “It doesn’t make any sense for us not to enforce our laws because the Biden administration and others who support lawlessness at our border aren’t doing their jobs.”
In response, Sheriff Marté and his office, through court filings submitted in early September, pushed back against the lawsuit. In an affidavit, Marté defended the policy, explaining that it was designed to ensure that all individuals are treated fairly during law enforcement encounters, regardless of their immigration or citizenship status.
“The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for employees of the Sheriff’s Office,” Marté stated. “Our policy ensures that we don’t divert our limited resources away from fighting crime to take on responsibilities that belong to the federal government.”
Marté also clarified that while his office does not interfere with federal immigration enforcement, it prioritizes local crime-fighting efforts over taking on federal duties.
Despite Marté’s defense, Rokita remains unwavering in his stance, saying, “The court will have to decide that.”
As the legal battle unfolds, Rokita is running for re-election against Democratic nominee Destiny Wells for the position of Indiana Attorney General this November. Neither Wells nor her campaign has commented on the lawsuit.