State of Indiana Archives: on Immigration
Andrew Straw:
Pathway to citizenship, except for felons
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens"?
A: Support, but there should be costs and anyone who has committed a felony should be excluded.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Indiana Senate candidate
Feb 28, 2018
Brian Bosma:
Local police should enforce federal immigration laws
Q: Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
A: Yes.
Source: 2012 Indiana State Legislative PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Daniel Coats:
Voted for amnesty 26 years ago; against a dozen times since
Ellsworth also criticized Coats for voting for an amnesty proposal for illegal immigrants, though Coats said he does not support amnesty. "To come home to Indiana after this many years and say he's totally against it is disingenuous," Ellsworth said.
Coats, the son of a Swedish immigrant, said he has cast 12 to 15 votes against amnesty since the vote Ellsworth referenced. "That was 26 years ago," Coats said.
Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 Indiana Senate debate
Oct 25, 2010
Eddie Melton:
Protecting DACA is essential; DREAMers are contributors
Melton filed a resolution to protect DACA recipients. Sen. Melton [said], "Many undocumented immigrants are brought here by their parents at a very young age and Indiana quickly becomes the only home they've ever known. We need to show the nearly
10,000 of those DREAMers living in Indiana that we support them. The individuals who have immigrated to our state have greatly contributed to the overall cultural and economic vitality of Indiana and we can't risk losing those positive contributions."
Source: Indiana Senate Democrats on 2020 Indiana gubernatorial race
Jan 11, 2018
Eric Holcomb:
I won't be xenophobic on immigration policy
A new super PAC, called Frugal Hoosiers, was started by Bill Oesterle, the former CEO of Indianapolis-based Angie's List. Oesterle and Eric Holcomb were top political aides to Pence's predecessor, former Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels."We want to make
sure people understand two of these candidates want to shut down the government; one of them has said he won't do that," Holcomb said. "Two of these candidates are not supportive of the LGBT community; one of them is.
Two of these candidates are very xenophobic on immigration policy; one of them isn't."
The campaigns of Stutzman and Young, who both voted last month against the federal budget-and-debt deal that averted a possible government shutdown, said they
were unfazed by the new super PAC.
Holcomb said he doesn't support efforts to shut down the government, believes securing the border should be a priority, and has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2016 Indiana Senate race
Nov 10, 2015
Eric Holcomb:
Allowed DACA recipients to get state professional licenses
Q: Support tighter immigration restrictions?Eric Holcomb: Unclear. Will keep accepting refugees, but "NOT illegal or unlawful immigrants." Supported Trump's 2017 order restricting refugees and immigration. Signed law allowing immigrants brought to
U.S. illegally as children (DACA recipients) to get state professional licenses.
Woody Myers: No. Supports immigration in general. "We've got to make sure that people feel welcome." Against substandard medical care for immigrants.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Jim Banks:
No amnesty; deport criminals; enforce existing laws
Jim Banks vows to fight to protect northeast Indiana from harmful immigration proposals. Lack of action on comprehensive border security endangers our national security and puts all of our families at risk. If elected to serve northeast Indiana in
Congress, Jim will:- Vote to defeat any immigration legislation that will result in amnesty for illegal aliens
- Support efforts to enforce existing U.S. immigration laws, including the implementation of the US-VISIT visitor entry program
-
Close borders to illegal aliens and illegal drugs
- Vote to complete the 700 miles of walls along our border with Mexico
- Vote to deport criminal illegal aliens
- Oppose any expansion of guest-worker programs
-
Reduce federal funding to states that issue drivers' licenses to illegal aliens, or adopt "sanctuary city" policies
- Vote to require that all government business must be conducted in English
Source: 2016 Indiana House campaign website JimBanks.us
Nov 8, 2016
Joe Donnelly:
3-year protection for DACA recipients
Immigration: Support path to citizenship for "DACA" recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US after being brought here as children? General views on immigration?Braun: No. DACA recipients should be in the same pool as other illegal immigrants.
Build border wall, ban sanctuary cities, demand businesses verify employees' immigrant status, & end chain migration.
Donnelly: Supported 3-year protection for DACA recipients that deferred question of citizenship.
Supports border wall. Voted for broader immigration bill with more border security & possible citizenship after 13-year waiting period.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Indiana Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Lyndon Johnson:
Abolish country-specific discriminatory quotas
We must do something about our immigration laws. Two-thirds of the total immigration quota goes under that law, to people who never use all their quota.- Pres. Roosevelt, with a good Dutch name, proposed the immigration law be changed.
Truman, with a good English name, proposed the law be changed.
- Pres. Eisenhower, with a good German name, proposed the law be changed.
- Pres. Kennedy, with a good Irish name, proposed that the law be changed.
- And now a President, L
Johnson, with an English name, and with an Irish name, and with German and Scottish and French forebears, proposes this law be changed.
We want to abolish those discriminatory quotas gradually over a 5-year period and raise the overall l
9,000, or 1/80th of 1 percent of our work force. This would permit families to unite which have too long been broken.We stand for a compassionate nation, not a callous nation. We stand for uniting our country instead of dividing it.
Source: Remarks at Washington H.S., Lake County, Indiana (APP#639)
Oct 8, 1964
Mike Braun:
Hard line approach to illegal immigrants: build the wall
The most important obligation our government has is to protect its citizens. The Congress has failed to meet this duty by refusing to address the southern border, allowing illegal immigrants and illicit drugs to pour into our communities.
We must act immediately to secure the border by building a wall, crack down on criminal illegal immigrants and the Sanctuary Cities that protect them, end chain migration, and demand that every business verifies the immigration status of its workers.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senate campaign website MikeBraunForIndiana.com
May 3, 2018
Mike Braun:
Treat DACA recipients like other illegal immigrants
Immigration: Support path to citizenship for "DACA" recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US after being brought here as children? General views on immigration?Braun: No. DACA recipients should be in the same pool as other illegal immigrants.
Build border wall, ban sanctuary cities, demand businesses verify employees' immigrant status, & end chain migration.
Donnelly: Supported 3-year protection for DACA recipients that deferred question of citizenship.
Supports border wall. Voted for broader immigration bill with more border security & possible citizenship after 13-year waiting period.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Indiana Senate race
Nov 1, 2018
Pete Buttigieg:
Most Americans are immigrants or their descendants
Buttigieg thinks the country needs comprehensive immigration reform, but hasn't said what that will entail. He thinks current policy at the southern border, including building the wall and separating families is bad policy. "I'm here because of
immigration," he said in a Scripps College town hall. "My father immigrated to this country and that's why I'm here. And most of us, unless we're descended from the first nations have that in our story, either came here or were brought here."
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2020 presidential hopefuls
May 6, 2019
Richard Lugar:
Yes, voted for DREAM Act, but not for benefits to illegals
About the only time either candidate got testy was after Mourdock claimed Lugar voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants, an apparent reference to the DREAM Act, legislation that would have provided a
route to citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. "That is unfair," Lugar responded, denying he had cast such votes. Lugar did support the DREAM Act.
Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Apr 12, 2012
Richard Mourdock:
No Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants
About the only time either candidate got testy was after Mourdock claimed Lugar voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants, an apparent reference to the DREAM Act, legislation that would have provided a
route to citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. "That is unfair," Lugar responded, denying he had cast such votes. Lugar did support the DREAM Act.
Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on 2012 Indiana Senate debate
Apr 12, 2012
Todd Rokita:
Build the wall; oppose sanctuary cities
Today, technology exists so that we can effectively and economically enforce our immigration laws and protect our border.
I support all measures necessary to secure the border, including building a wall. I will oppose amnesty and work with President Trump to stop dangerous sanctuary cities and deport criminal illegal immigrants.
Source: 2018 Indiana Senatorial website ToddRokita.com
Oct 1, 2017
Todd Rokita:
Imprison local officials who allow sanctuary cities
Rep. Rokita wants to imprison sanctuary city officials who help undocumented immigrants. Rokita introduced a bill that could imprison and fine public officials $1 million if they obstruct federal immigration authority efforts. The legislation targets
sanctuary cities, which shelter undocumented immigrants or don't cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under Rokita's Stopping Lawless Actions of Politicians (SLAP) Act, violators could face up to five years of prison time and
a fine of up to $1 million for ignoring the federal government's requests for custody of undocumented individuals.
"The American people are rightfully infuriated watching politicians put their open-borders ideology before the rule of
law, and the safety of the people they represent," Rokita said in a statement. "Politicians don't get to pick and choose what laws to comply with."
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2018 Indiana Senatorial race
Dec 4, 2017
Todd Young:
Cites support for border wall in re-election announcement
Young has announced that he's seeking reelection to his Indiana seat. Young touted his support of former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence and pointed to his support of Trump's conservative judicial nominees and Trump's push
to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. "I believe I've lived up to my oath and kept my word, but more work remains," Young said.
Source: Associated Press on 2022 Indiana Senate race
Mar 2, 2021
Woody Myers:
Against substandard medical care for immigrants
Q: Support tighter immigration restrictions?Woody Myers: No. Supports immigration in general. "We've got to make sure that people feel welcome." Against substandard medical care for immigrants.
Eric Holcomb: Unclear. Will keep
accepting refugees, but "NOT illegal or unlawful immigrants." Supported Trump's 2017 order restricting refugees and immigration. Signed law allowing immigrants brought to U.S. illegally as children (DACA recipients) to get state professional licenses.
Source: CampusElect survey on 2020 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Nov 3, 2020
Suzanne Crouch:
Biden's border policy really about new Democratic voters
But some recent remarks from Crouch's campaign Twitter account take a harder stance. It's almost like someone has a check-list somewhere of conservative, hot-button topics she must weigh in on.
The U.S.-Mexico border: "President Biden and his Democrat puppets don't care if our Southern border is secure," Crouch tweeted recently. She said Biden's border policy is a "Democrat voter registration drive masquerading as an immigration policy."
Source: Indiana Capital Chronicle on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial race
Jun 2, 2023
ACLU:
Disallow warrantless arrests for immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11; Overturned case #1:11-cv-0708-SEB-MJD on Jan/10/12.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Mar 29, 2013
Brian Bosma:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; State Rep. Brian Bosma voted YES; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Apr 29, 2011
Jim Baird:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; State Rep. Jim Baird voted YES; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Apr 29, 2011
Jim Banks:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; State Sen. Jim Banks voted YES; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Apr 29, 2011
Mitch Daniels:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
May 10, 2011
Suzanne Crouch:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; State Rep. Suzanne Crouch voted YES; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Apr 29, 2011
Jennifer McCormick:
Create a humane pathway for those seeking legal immigration
We will work with local, state, and federal officials in supporting an immigrant system that creates a safe, timely, orderly,
and humane pathway for those seeking legal immigration while keeping our communities and those responsible for border security safe.
Source: 2024 Indiana Governor campaign website McCormickForGov.com
Jun 10, 2024
Valerie McCray:
Stop using immigration as a scapegoat for America's problems
We must stop using immigration as a scapegoat for America's problems. When I'm in office, I will focus on comprehensive immigration reform legislation and will work to push bipartisan efforts without watering down our democratic values.
I will push for expedited work permits for those already here because we have to speed up the process. I will push for a fairer and more efficient process for asylum claims and additional immigrant visas for families and workers.
Source: 2024 Indiana Senate campaign website ValerieMcCray.com
Sep 30, 2024
Valerie McCray:
Comprehensive immigration reform: fund judges & border
Immigration: McCray would advocate for "comprehensive immigration reform," which would include expedited work permits, more efficient asylum and increasing funding for federal efforts such as asylum judges and border patrol.
She said she would support the president shutting down the border if the immigration system becomes overwhelmed.
Source: Indianapolis Star on 2024 Indiana Senate race
Sep 17, 2024
Eric Doden:
Would send National Guard troops to the southern border
Doden began his response by saying that President Joe Biden and Congress "need to do their jobs." Doden also said that, if elected, he would send
National Guard troops to the southern border. He added that, in addition to mobilizing troops, he would support Indiana law enforcement agencies to combat local drug dealers.
Source: FOX59 on 2024 Indiana Gubernatorial GOP debate
Mar 26, 2024
Mike Braun:
Indiana will not be a safe haven for illegal immigration
Americans sent a clear message in November they do not want open borders. Indiana will do whatever we can to help secure our southern border and end this crisis that has brought deadly fentanyl and crime to our streets. Unchecked illegal immigration
brings serious risks to our communities. Let me be clear, Indiana will not be a safe haven for illegal immigration. As the Trump administration begins to return illegal aliens with criminal records to their home countries, we will assist.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature
Jan 29, 2025
Mark Messmer:
Allow local arrests for possession of immigration documents
SB590: Makes various changes concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.ACLU-IN statement in opposition (3/2913): U.S. District Court struck down Indiana's immigration law SB590. The law permitted local law enforcement officers
to make warrantless arrests of people in possession of certain immigration-related documents, even though the possession of those documents is not a crime. The law also made the use of identification cards issued by consulates of foreign countries
illegal. The decision, Buquer v. City of Indianapolis et al, "runs afoul of the Fourth Amendment [because it authorizes state and local law enforcement officers to] effect warrantless arrests for matters that are not crimes."
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-31-1 on Apr/29/11; State Rep. Mark Messmer voted YES; passed Senate 35-15-0 on Apr/29/11; Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on May/10/11.
Source: ACLU-Indiana on Indiana Legislature voting records SB590
Apr 29, 2011
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026