Final Vote on SB 76
(URGENT) Take Action: Contact your Indiana senator and tell them to vote against the House Amendments.
SB 76 is moving quickly through the Indiana General Assembly, and it deserves serious attention from all of us. This bill would require schools, police departments, jails, and other public institutions to work more directly with federal immigration enforcement — pulling everyday community spaces into federal immigration decisions.
This does not make our communities stronger. It risks impacting the freedoms of immigrant families by creating more fear about going to school, reporting a crime, or accessing health care. When people are afraid to engage with public institutions, trust erodes — and when trust erodes, public safety suffers for everyone.
There are also real concerns about due process. Federal immigration detainers are not always accompanied by judicial warrants. Requiring local agencies to hold individuals without that protection could open our communities to costly legal challenges — and taxpayers could ultimately be responsible for those bills.
Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility. Our local police and sheriffs should be focused on local crime, neighborhood safety, and building strong relationships with the people they serve — not being mandated to carry out expanded federal enforcement duties. This bill would divert time, staffing, and funding away from community priorities like public safety, schools, infrastructure, and public health. It would also increase administrative and training costs at the local level, meaning fewer resources available for the services Hoosier families rely on.
There is also an economic reality we can’t ignore. Immigrant families are workers, small business owners, caregivers, and taxpayers in our communities. Policies that create fear and instability can impact workforce participation and strain local economies.
Indiana has always valued personal freedom, local control, fiscal responsibility, and neighbors looking out for one another. SB 76 moves us in the opposite direction by expanding state mandates, shifting costs to local communities, and creating division rather than strengthening trust.
This bill passed the Senate. During the crossover, the House amended it to include that schools and healthcare providers must also cooperate with ICE, among other stricter policies. The Senate will vote on the amendments on Monday, the 23rd, at 1:30.
Author: Angie Wentz
Editor: Marilyn Torres
Contact your Indiana Senator TODAY!
Contact your Indiana state senator and tell them to oppose the amendments added to SB 76.
Indiana State Senate: (800) 382-9467 or (317) 232-9400
Our communities are strongest when everyone feels safe participating in them — and when our public dollars are spent on real local needs, not policies that create fear and shift priorities away from families.
Sample Call Script:
Hi, my name is __________ and I live in __________ (city or zip code). I’m a constituent of Senator __________.
I’m calling to respectfully urge them to oppose SB 76.
I’m concerned that SB 76 would require our local schools, law enforcement, and public institutions to become more directly involved in federal immigration enforcement. I believe immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and our local agencies should stay focused on community safety, education, and local priorities.
I’m also concerned this bill could create fear in immigrant communities, making families less likely to report crimes, access services, or participate in public life. That doesn’t make our communities safer — it weakens trust.
In addition, I worry about the cost to local taxpayers. Diverting resources toward expanded compliance requirements and potential legal challenges could strain already tight local budgets.
I’m asking Senator __________ to vote NO on the House amendments to SB 76 and to prioritize policies that strengthen community trust, fiscal responsibility, and public safety for everyone.
Thank you for your time.
If You Get Voicemail
Hi, my name is __________ from __________. I’m calling to urge Senator __________ to vote NO on the House amendments to 6. I believe it diverts local resources, increases costs for taxpayers, and creates fear in immigrant communities. Please prioritize policies that strengthen trust and local safety. Thank you.