Kristi Noem, Gov. Mike Braun talk ICE, ISP partnership in Gary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Thursday that, through U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 287(g) program, more than 223 undocumented immigrants have been arrested on Indiana highways. Of those arrests, Noem said 146 were truck drivers, including 46 tractor-trailer drivers and 82 box truck drivers.
“With state partners like Gov. (Mike) Braun and like the state of Indiana, people will be safer,” Noem said. “People will be protected and our laws will matter. »
These actions are part of Operation Midway Blitz, the mass deportation mission that also includes Lake County, Indiana. Through Operation Midway Blitz, Noem said ICE arrested about 3,000 people.
Noem told media on Thursday that no U.S. citizens had been arrested or detained, despite various reports claiming otherwise. Noem claimed that “anything different is just a false report.”
During Thursday’s press conference, Noem called California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker “reckless” for issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.
Acting U.S. ICE Director Todd Lyons doubled down on Noem’s statement on Thursday.
“It is unconscionable that illegal aliens have CDLs to drive 18-wheelers across our country, simply because sanctuary cities want to play with the lives of motorists,” Lyons said.
Gov. Mike Braun, ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan and Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott also participated Thursday.
Noem’s news conference — which was listed as an undisclosed location until about 6 p.m. Wednesday and was held in an Indiana National Guard hangar at the Gary/Chicago International Airport — was announced without the knowledge of local leaders, particularly Gary Mayor Eddie Melton.
“Let me be clear: The Mayor’s Office and the City of Gary were not involved in organizing, planning, or facilitating this event,” Melton’s statement Wednesday said. “The city of Gary will not be participating in this event.”
Adam Gypalo, a spokesman for Gary/Chicago International Airport, said in a statement Thursday morning that the airport was aware of the news conference Noem held. The National Guard facilities where the news conference was held are not under the jurisdiction of the airport authority, Gypalo said.
“As a reminder, the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority plays no role in establishing or enforcing federal immigration policy, which is overseen by the United States Government,” Gypalo said in his statement.
“Like almost all other airports, GCIA receives federal funding, and the airport’s assurances regarding federal funding prohibit it from discriminating against flights entering or leaving the airport. This means that the airport cannot prevent ICE chartered planes from using the airport. The airport itself has no flight service contract with ICE.”
A counter-protest took place at the Gary/Chicago International Airport at the same time as Noem’s press conference.
“What’s happening right now is disgusting,” said Rafael Manzo, organizer of Thursday’s protest. “Time and time again we see people being separated from their families. »
ICE’s 287(g) program allows the department’s enforcement and removal operations to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to identify and remove undocumented immigrants “who are suitable for removal from the United States,” according to the ICE website.
Braun announced during Thursday’s news conference that Indiana State Police plans to expand the program by assigning additional troopers.
“This will require a joint effort,” Braun said. “Every state is a border state where you have to deal with things like this. Operation Midway Blitz is about making our highways safer.”
Scott, the ISP superintendent, told media Thursday that this action does not require new implementation of laws and said that is what the agency does every day.
“For the Indiana State Police, it’s not just about immigration status; it’s also about public safety,” Scott said. “Consistent commercial vehicle enforcement is necessary to protect Indiana motorists, but it is also important to protect the overwhelming majority of legal truckers and trucking companies who follow the rules and keep our roadways safe for motorists.”
On Oct. 15 in Portage, Borko Stankovic, 41, of Lyons, Ill., was involved in a fatal crash after driving a tractor-trailer without a license, according to Post-Tribune archives. While he was being held in the Porter County Jail, ICE filed charges against Stankovic.
According to Post-Tribune archives, Stankovic is originally from Serbia and Montenegro and has been in the United States illegally since February 2011, when his nonimmigrant visa status expired. Portage police discovered Stankovic only had an Illinois driver’s license and lacked the required CDL.
During Thursday’s press conference, Braun also thanked the Trump administration for expanding the program to Indiana, saying it had an impact on the Hoosier State “probably more…than any other state.”
“When you have a lot of major highways running through your state, you probably have more of them per square mile, and you’re going to end up with disproportionately more problems,” Braun said. “It takes a lot of effort to get CDLs, and when they are handed out like they are in places like California and others, it puts everyone at risk.”
Braun also mentioned the action to redistrict Indiana’s congressional districts to give Republicans 9-0 control, saying the action is necessary because “sanctuary cities and states” are home to undocumented immigrants, saying “this makes the representation disproportionate in their favor.”
State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, responded to Noem and Braun’s comments in a statement to the Post-Tribune. Jackson was not present at the press conference but instead joined protesters at the airport.
“It is disappointing to see (Governor Braun) focusing on ICE raids at a time when more than 500,000 Hoosiers are on the verge of losing their SNAP benefits,” Jackson said in his statement. “We should be using excess state resources to feed Hoosiers, but this governor is worried about how he can serve Washington, D.C.”
Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said in a phone call with the Post-Tribune on Wednesday that it was “absolutely disgraceful” that local leaders and residents were not informed in advance about where the news conference would take place. McDermott also continued to say he did not support ICE operations in the region, according to Post-Tribune archives.
“Everyone is a victim of crime, and I know we have our pockets of crime, but now the danger is coming from them,” McDermott said. “It’s not right. It’s not normal. There wasn’t a problem until they came.”
Several protesters expressed disappointment in Braun, including Jennifer Gross of Merrillville. She heard about the protest through social media, she said.
“It’s very concerning because we are facing huge hunger and other problems,” she said. “(Noem) is flying in on a private plane to announce an increase in zones that will only terrorize our communities and put food on our tables. This makes things even more expensive and backfires on our neighbors.”
At Thursday’s protest, Rensselaer resident James Minix wore a traditional Black Death mask with a sign reading: “Trump’s plague is ICE.”
“If I don’t do this, then who will?” » » asked Minix.
Minix also said he was disappointed that Braun and Noem held a press conference in Gary without first notifying local leaders or residents of the location.
Cindy Grass, a Crown Point resident, said she thought Braun and Noem’s secrecy behind the meeting was a bad sign for the direction of the U.S. government. Grass also attended the protest to denounce ICE’s actions nationwide.
“They don’t identify themselves and take off their masks,” Grass said. “They’re being excessively violent and separating families. It’s just out of control and we need to do something about it.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
