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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit against Indianapolis Public Schools for its policies and practices that frustrate federal immigration authorities\u2019 ability to enforce federal law and violate Indiana law.<\/p>\n
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News release from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita:<\/p>\n
Attorney General Todd Rokita files lawsuit against IPS for thwarting federal immigration enforcement<\/strong>
\nAmerica First Policy Institute (AFPI) joins as special counsel, praises Attorney General Rokita\u2019s Leadership<\/em><\/p>\nIndianapolis, Indiana (November 6, 2025) – Attorney General Todd Rokita today filed a lawsuit against Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) for its policies and practices that frustrate federal immigration authorities\u2019 ability to enforce federal law and violate Indiana law.<\/p>\n
Attorney General Rokita said IPS currently maintains policies that frustrate ICE\u2019s ability to do its job by severely limiting ICE\u2019s access to school grounds and prohibiting IPS employees from assisting or sharing information with ICE.<\/p>\n
\u201cSanctuary policies are bad in any context, but they are especially troubling in our schools,\u201d said Attorney General Rokita. \u201cSchools across the country are vulnerable to infiltration by criminal illegal aliens\u2014it’s happened in many other states\u2014and it is essential that ICE be able to take action when that occurs to help keep our kids safe. That\u2019s why my office, with the assistance of AFPI, is suing IPS to enforce compliance with state law and protect Hoosier schoolchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n
In January, IPS staff thwarted ICE\u2019s efforts to deport an illegal alien who had voluntarily agreed to leave the country. Despite Attorney General Rokita\u2019s February warning that IPS must discontinue its unlawful policies or face legal action, IPS has continued to defy Indiana\u2019s anti-sanctuary law.<\/p>\n
There are many reasons why school cooperation with federal immigration authorities is critically important. ICE is currently attempting to locate the nearly 400,000 unaccompanied alien children whom the Biden Administration released into the United States and who are vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers. To do so, ICE requires help from school authorities to determine whether and where these minors may be enrolled in school. Similarly, it is essential for ICE to have cooperation from schools when criminal illegal aliens, like MS-13 gang members, infiltrate school locations. IPS policies deny ICE that cooperation and assistance, in flagrant violation of state law.<\/p>\n
AFPI, a nonprofit that advances policies putting Americans first, is serving as special counsel in this case.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttorney General Rokita is showing exactly the kind of leadership America needs,\u201d said Leigh Ann O\u2019Neill, AFPI\u2019s chief legal affairs officer. \u201cWhen state attorneys general act boldly to enforce cooperation with federal immigration law, they help protect families, uphold the rule of law, and stop the political gamesmanship that endangers our communities. We\u2019re proud to support this work \u2014 and we stand ready to assist other AGs looking to follow Indiana\u2019s lead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indiana law prohibits local government entities\u2014including school districts\u2014from restricting cooperation with ICE or interfering with federal immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re fighting to make sure our schools are places of learning, not lawlessness,\u201d said Attorney General Rokita.<\/p>\n