LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- President Donald Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan was in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Homan highlighted the Trump administration's immigration policies during his speech at the statehouse.
He later joined Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita in urging Indiana lawmakers to support what they call "The Fairness Act."
"Cooperation with ICE should be a part of every sheriff and every law enforcements daily work, it should be routine," Rokita said.
If passed, the state could punish employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants.
Earlier this year, a similar bill passed in the House, but died in a Senate committee. Homan is now pushing Indiana lawmakers to "help President Trump" by passing it next session.
"When you stood up here talking about the legislation, I was like a kid in the candy store sitting down here," Homan said. "Hopefully that becomes law."
Homan also held a closed-door meeting with sheriff's offices and Republican lawmakers to take questions about Indiana's immigration policy.
Local sheriff invited to speech at statehouse
Floyd County Sheriff Steve Bush spoke with WDRB at the Floyd County Sheriff's Office on Oct. 15, 2025. (WDRB photo)
Floyd County Sheriff Steve Bush was among 11 sheriffs invited to attend.
"Indiana obviously is not a border state, but it's important for us as sheriffs to understand what's going on around us and then what we can do to help," Bush said.
Bush went to the border in October 2023 when he first became sheriff. Bush said at the time that the surge of migrants illegally crossing the border was almost unbelievable.
So far this month, he said there's been fewer than 3,000 reported.
"Our No. 1 goal as sheriffs is to protect our community and the No. 1 goal for our country is to protect our country and that is securing our borders," Bush said.
Bush said the U.S. could make the process to enter the country legally easier and more accessible.
"Coming here illegally, there's got to be a better process whether it's getting more judges to oversee a case, what's the criteria, is it too strict, is it not strict enough? We do have to vet people coming into our country," he said.
After coming home from Indianapolis, Bush said it's business as usual and his department will continue to assist the federal government when needed.
"We don't go out there and search for any illegals," Bush said. "If they're brought in on other charges and then we determine if they're here illegally and then we call ICE and then they have 48 hours to come or not and if they don't, we release."
Bush said there's currently no ICE detainees at the Floyd County Jail and they don't have enough room to house those detainees at this time.
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