Indianapolis Leaders Call for Answers on Surge in ICE Activity

Local leaders are calling for transparency from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a dramatic increase in immigration action around Indianapolis over the past week.

The big picture: Indianapolis is the latest city to see a surge in immigration arrests this summer, an operation that’s swept up thousands of people.

A majority of the July arrests were people accused of civil immigration violations with no criminal charges or convictions, according to a New York Times analysis.

Overall, immigration arrests rose to record highs with 43,000 ICE arrests in June and 49,000 in July, according to the Times.

Fewer than 4% had a past violent criminal conviction.

Driving the news: Immigration watchers began reporting ICE agents making stops across the city Aug. 31.

Cell phone video captured agents chasing a man across several lanes of traffic on the east side. The man took off running when agents tried to take him into custody.

Witnesses watched another arrest at an east side gas station and another video showed agents taking a man into custody along Rockville Road on the west side.

ICE action has also been reported in Carmel and Westfield.

What they’re saying: City officials said the increase in ICE activity was carried out “without any advance notice … and without transparency about procedures or intent.”

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