ICE Enforcement Rises Sharply in Indianapolis as New Detention Site Sparks Outcry —by ChatGPT
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ICE Enforcement Rises Sharply in Indianapolis as New Detention Site Sparks Outcry
By ChatGPT and Dan Grossman
Indianapolis — Immigration enforcement in Indiana has intensified dramatically over the past 10 months, turning the state—especially the Indianapolis metro—into an increasingly central node in the federal government’s deportation machinery. The surge has brought heightened fear to immigrant communities, drawn protest from advocacy groups, and set off a political struggle over how deeply local agencies should cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
ICE data show that between September 2023 and June 2025, officers made more than 3,600 arrests statewide, a substantial portion of which occurred in Marion County. Nearly a thousand arrests were logged at the Marion County Jail alone during that period. What has alarmed advocates is not only the sheer volume but the nature of the arrests: fewer than half the individuals taken into custody had prior criminal convictions. Many others had no criminal charges at all, reflecting a broadening of enforcement priorities that sweeps in long-time residents, workers, and families with no history of violence.
Across Indianapolis, the Marion County Jail has evolved into a key holding site for detainees. Reports indicate that hundreds of people from dozens of countries have passed through the facility in 2025, sometimes staying weeks or months while awaiting transfer. Sheriff Kerry Forestal has defended continuing cooperation with federal authorities, arguing that his office is obligated to enforce the law regardless of political preferences. But immigrant-rights organizations contend that the arrangement undermines community trust and endangers residents who increasingly fear contact with any arm of government.
At the same time, Indiana’s partnership with ICE is deepening at the state level. A recently approved agreement allows ICE to house up to 1,000 detainees at the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, roughly an hour and a half north of Indianapolis. The site has drawn intense scrutiny, in part because the state has committed nearly $16 million in upgrades—ranging from perimeter fencing to additional screening equipment—to accommodate the new detainee population. Critics have taken to calling the retrofitted prison the “Speedway Slammer,” a nod to Indiana’s racing culture and the political momentum behind the expansion.
Immigrant-justice groups argue the deal effectively transforms Indiana into a regional detention hub, capable of absorbing waves of arrests not only from the state but potentially from elsewhere in the Midwest. ICE, for its part, has pointed to the cooperation of several Indiana law enforcement agencies—especially new partners operating under the federal 287(g) program—as a reason for its increasing efficiency. While agencies in Hamilton County and other jurisdictions have embraced the program, Indianapolis police have not, and city leaders have signaled little interest in participating more fully in immigration enforcement.
The political response has been divided. Some state officials have welcomed the heightened ICE activity, insisting it strengthens public safety and deters unlawful entry. Others, including Governor Mike Braun, have publicly questioned the uptick in non-criminal immigration arrests, saying the data “should raise eyebrows” if confirmed. Meanwhile, Attorney General Todd Rokita has warned local leaders that attempts to curtail cooperation with ICE could violate state law.
For many immigrants living in Indianapolis, however, the debate is far from abstract. Community groups report that residents are skipping medical appointments, avoiding hospitals, and staying away from public institutions for fear that ICE agents may be present. A viral video earlier this year showing two Honduran men pulled from a van during a traffic stop has intensified anxiety in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. Social-service providers say the chilling effect is already evident in declining participation in health and legal clinics.
As the Miami Correctional Facility begins accepting detainees and ICE continues its high-volume operations in Marion County, Indianapolis finds itself at the center of a national fight over immigration enforcement. What that means for families, neighborhoods, and public institutions may become clearer in the months ahead, as the city grapples with the human cost of one of the most aggressive enforcement expansions in Indiana’s recent history.
Sources for Key Claims in this article:
ICE Arrests in Indiana (2023–2025) / Non-criminal Arrests
WISH-TV: reports that ICE made 3,653 arrests in Indiana between Sept. 1, 2023 and June 26, 2025. Of these, 1,549 (≈ 42%) involved people with prior criminal convictions; another large portion had pending criminal charges; 604 were categorized as “other immigration violator” (which includes non-criminal immigration violations). WISH-TV
Axios: detailed analysis of non-criminal ICE arrests, noting a sharp increase in June 2025 and linking it to broader ICE policy shifts. Axios
Marion County Jail as a Major ICE Holding Site
Local Law Enforcement and 287(g) Participation
Axios: notes that there are four Indiana agencies with 287(g) agreements, and reports that ICE credited “cooperative agencies” (including 287(g) partners) for its operations. Axios+1
Axios (local): highlights the 287(g) agreement in Hamilton County specifically, and also indicates that IMPD (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police) is not part of that program. Axios
Miami Correctional Facility (“Speedway Slammer”) – Contract & Cost
Indiana Capital Chronicle: covers the $15.79 million in state funding approved for upgrades, the planned capacity of up to 1,000 ICE detainees, and infrastructure changes (fencing, x-rays, intake modifications, etc.). Indiana Capital Chronicle
Intergovernmental Service Agreement (IGSA) Contract: the agreement between ICE / DHS and the Indiana Department of Correction for Miami Correctional Facility is publicly available and confirms: up to 1,000 adult male beds, and that the facility’s total capacity is over 3,100. Indiana Capital Chronicle
WRTV: reports the first 15 ICE detainees arriving at the facility, and confirms the per-diem rate of $291.94/day in the contract. WRTV Indianapolis
Axios: similarly reports on the per-diem rate and the “up to 1,000 beds” capacity in its story about the first arrivals. Axios
Indiana Public Media / IPM: explanation that ICE is not building new beds; rather, it is using existing but unused bed capacity in the prison. Indiana Public Media
Interfaith / Faith-leaders’ opposition: IPM reports faith leaders on site protesting as detainees began arriving. Indiana Public Media+1
Detention Watch Network: press release condemning the expansion of ICE detention capacity via Miami Correctional Facility, framing it as part of a broader “regional hub” strategy. Detention Watch Network
Political Reaction / Community Impact
WISH-TV: includes quotes from Chris Daley (ACLU of Indiana) about the concerns with non-criminal arrests and due process. WISH-TV
Indiana Capital Chronicle: state budget discussion and political debate around the cost of the ICE-DOC deal, including criticism from state legislators about profit built into the per-diem-based contract. Indiana Capital Chronicle
Detention Watch Network: framing of the arrangement as part of a “growing pattern of state and local complicity,” raising concerns about human rights, due process, and the Midwest role in ICE’s strategy. Detention Watch Network
The editor changed the lead paragraph to read “Immigration enforcement in Indiana has intensified dramatically over the past 2 years” to “Immigration enforcement in Indiana has intensified dramatically over the past 10 months” which more accurately reflects the reality of the Trump administration approach to immigration compared to Biden’s.
