Illegal immigrants are not Americans, they are foreign nationals who, in their first act in coming to this country, broke federal immigration law, and a majority of U.S. voters made it plain last fall that they expect lawmakers to do something about it.
In 2024, the American electorate demanded every level and branch of government not just secure the border but end the funding and furtherance of illegal immigration. President Donald Trump signed multiple executive orders directing the full enforcement of federal immigration laws.
But he isn’t alone in the fight against illegal immigration. This session, the Indiana House did its part by passing H.B. 1531 to execute the will of the people and enforce immigration law.
As one of us noted in testimony before the Indiana House, H.B. 1531 addresses various immigration issues, including strengthening interior immigration enforcement as a crucial part of securing our state, our nation, and the rule of law, and clarifying Indiana’s prohibition on sanctuary cities.
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The bill aligns Indiana with the federal government by clarifying that local and state police officers must comply with immigration detainers and may enforce immigration law. In stark contrast to when former President Joe Biden’s administration stripped federal law enforcement officers of their ability to carry out the rule of law, they are now empowered and safeguarded in their efforts to maintain homeland security.
H.B. 1531 also supports Indiana law enforcement by providing immunity to governmental bodies and employees who enforce federal law and comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers.
Through granting governmental immunity for immigration law enforcement, Indiana seeks to comply with the directions given in Trump’s “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” executive order, which clarifies that state and local law enforcement agencies may enter into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to enforce immigration law.
H.B. 1531 also directs parolee sponsors to submit information to the state on who they are sponsoring. Reporting requirements are essential tools for gathering information and understanding the rate at which illegal immigrants are burdening public resources. The bill’s data collection provision addresses the Biden mass illegal migration crisis, which overwhelmed Indiana public schools, hospitals, and benefits reserved for Indiana citizens and permanent residents.
Additionally, H.B. 1531 incentivizes businesses to verify employees’ work eligibility through E-Verify. State-codified verification of work authorization serves as an effective tool to discourage illegal immigrants from living in Indiana. An estimated 100,000 illegal immigrants live in Indiana, and they cost the state around $4,451 each.
Other states have implemented E-Verify and have seen success in discouraging illegal residence in their respective states because E-Verify is a free, easy-to-use system that gives employers confidence they are hiring authorized employees and safe harbor during any ICE audits.
American jobs are the No. 1 reason illegal immigrants cross U.S. borders. Too often, employers do not even consider American citizens or legal immigrants for unskilled labor opportunities.
Instead, businesses hire illegal immigrants in violation of federal law because employers can pay them less, do less paperwork, and provide them no benefits. H.B. 1531 rightly penalizes employers who fail to hire Americans and lawful immigrants.
Americans no longer accept the repeated mindless claim that illegal immigrant employment is necessary for U.S. economic prosperity. U.S. law provides scores of temporary and permanent legal channels for immigrants to seek legal entry. The H-2A temporary visa, for example, allows employers within the agriculture sector to hire an uncapped number of immigrants—legally.
Directing employers to use E-Verify to verify their labor force is authorized to work will discourage illegal immigrants from residing in Indiana and may encourage such immigrants to self-deport from the United States.
But before the Indiana Senate passes this legislation, senators must remove a poisonous amendment added by the Left.
This new language counteracts the purpose of H.B. 1531 by restricting the E-Verify portion of the bill’s scope to be applicable only to businesses with 10 employees or more. Indiana Senate Republicans must strike the amendment before H.B. 1531’s final passage to bring Indiana’s immigration laws in line with federal code.
Given that Indiana businesses employing 10 or fewer people make up around 44% of total employment, nearly half of the entire workforce would be exempted from work authorization verification requirements.
Indiana should be a haven for U.S. citizens residing in Indiana, not a sanctuary for illegal immigrants. Every provision in H.B. 1531 was crafted in compliance with the mandate issued by the people for immigration enforcement.
The people of Indiana will remember legislators who uphold Americans’ right to be protected from an invasion of U.S. borders. They’ll be watching the Indiana Senate closely as it debates H.B. 1531.
This piece originally appeared in the Washington Examiner
