FORT WAYNE, IND. (WOWO) Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is sharply criticizing a Fort Wayne lawmaker’s immigration enforcement proposal, arguing it weakens accountability and undermines efforts to remove people in the country illegally. Rokita made the comments during an appearance on Fort Wa yne’s Morning News with Kayla Blakeslee, where he addressed Senate Bill 76 — authored by State Senator Liz Brown — which cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee last week on a 6–2 vote and now heads to the full Indiana Senate. Brown has described the bill as strengthening how local governments handle federal immigration detainer requests. The legislation would impose penalties on local agencies that fail to comply, ban knowingly hiring undocumented workers, and provide legal protections for officers enforcing immigration laws. Rokita said that characterization is inaccurate. “No,” Rokita said when asked if that was a fair summary. “No one who is serious about removing illegal aliens and putting Hoosiers first, taxpayers first, is for this. This is just another one of those window-dressing bills that really does nothing — and in fact, goes backwards.” Accountability at the Center of the Dispute Rokita argued Senate Bill 76 would weaken enforcement by shifting oversight away from his office and placing it under the Indiana Department of Correction. “My accountability is immediate,” he said, noting his office is currently suing at least two county sheriffs for allegedly harboring people in the country illegally. “This bill would make it take probably 18 months for anything to happen.” He said the Department of Correction already faces significant demands and only inspects county jails about once a year. “So it could take a long time for a sheriff to be held accountable,” Rokita said. Rokita instead promoted legislation known as the Fairness Act, authored by State Representative J.D. Prescott, which he supports and expects to return in the next legislative session. “That’s the gold standard,” Rokita said. “It’s not a magic pill, but Brown’s bill goes the opposite direction.” Detainers, ICE, and Local Jails Rokita said one of his main concerns involves how local jails handle immigration detainers. Under current state law, sheriffs are required to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they have someone in custody who is in the country illegally. Rokita said that often isn’t enough. “We’ve seen it where they’re let go before ICE even gets there,” he said. The Fairness Act would require sheriffs to hold individuals for a reasonable amount of time until ICE arrives. “We’re talking hours or maybe a couple of days,” Rokita said. “That’s it.” He argued Senate Bill 76 removes that enforcement authority from the attorney general’s office and delays action. Dispute Over Trump Administration Ties Rokita also took issue with Brown’s claims that her bill aligns with Trump administration immigration priorities. “She’s really bad for saying that she met with Tom Homan,” Rokita said, referring to Trump’s former border czar. “She never met with him. I was with him the whole time.” Rokita said Homan endorsed the Fairness Act, not Brown’s bill. “She’s acting like she’s working with Trump on this, and nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. Political Tensions Escalate During the interview, Rokita suggested the legislation is politically motivated and a response to criticism he previously voiced about Brown’s stance on immigration. “She doesn’t want to get rid of illegal aliens,” Rokita said. “She doesn’t want immigration reform.” He referenced a disciplinary complaint Brown filed against him, which he said has since been dismissed. “If it was a good bill, I’d support it,” Rokita said. “But it’s not.” What Comes Next Senate Bill 76 now moves to the full Indiana Senate for debate and a possible vote. Rokita said it’s unclear whether the bill will pass. “Everyone understands where Hoosier voters and taxpayers are on this — and where the Trump administration is,” he said. “Not with Liz Brown’s bill. They’re with the Fairness Act.” Rokita said the Fairness Act will be reintroduced in 2026 and is expected to clear the Indiana House. “Then the question becomes,” he said, “what is the Senate going to do with it?” The post WOWO EXCLUSIVE: ROKTIA BLASTS BROWN BORDER BILL appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less