AIP Panel INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have launched a series of raids across Indianapolis, sparking widespread fear and a sharp divide among the state’s political leaders. Multiple residents provided videos showing agents detaining individuals suspected o f being in the country without legal authorization. One video shows a man in handcuffs pushed against a truck near the Carriage House Apartments on the city’s west side. Another shows an arrest at a Marathon gas station on East 38th Street. Dallin Likens, an attorney with Banks and Brower, said the firm is seeing unusual confusion and fear among clients. He added that even those in the process of gaining citizenship now face uncertainty. Likens said federal policy changes have made it more difficult to secure releases from custody. Many individuals must now seek federal court orders, a process that is often cost-prohibitive. “I would certainly say people are getting released from ICE custody, but it’s becoming much less likely and much more difficult.” Mayor Joe Hogsett criticized the lack of communication from federal authorities, stating his office received no advance notice of the operations. Hogsett called the activity “cruelty” and noted that the raids are deterring residents from attending school, medical appointments, or grocery stores. In contrast, U.S. Sen. Jim Banks supported the enforcement, stating on social media that ICE has a “constitutional responsibility” to deport those in the country illegally. Banks warned that he would not let Indianapolis become like Minneapolis. U.S. Rep. Andre Carson launched a formal congressional inquiry into the scope and probable cause of the arrests. Carson, a former law enforcement officer, argued the arrests erode community trust and do not make the city safer. Carson said data indicate that 96% of ICE arrests in July involved individuals without prior criminal convictions. Carson expressed concern over racial profiling and government overreach. He also highlighted the danger of deporting Haitian immigrants to a country currently under a State Department travel advisory. The political tension comes as Indiana focuses on its workforce needs. Otis Granberry of the Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters said the state needs more than 1,500 additional carpenters and millwrights by the end of the year to support major projects like the Eli Lilly expansions and the Lebanon data center. Granberry emphasized that union careers provide the wages and benefits families need to thrive. He also noted that unions are advocating for solutions to the state’s childcare shortage to help retain workers as older generations retire. Democrat Laura Beck described a “culture of fear” that is harming the local economy. She argued that when people are afraid to go to work, they cannot pay rent or contribute to the community. Republican Matt Bell countered that the raids prioritize public safety and the rule of law. Bell said that recent enforcement actions in Lawrence led to the apprehension of an individual with a felony drug warrant. While Beck warned of potential protests, Bell argued that local officials should cooperate with federal authorities to ensure community safety. He pointed to 287G agreements in nearby counties as a model for law enforcement cooperation. ...read more read less