Why ICE Detention Centers Are Bad for Indiana and the United States
When most people hear about ICE detention centers, they imagine something far away on the southern border. But the truth is, these facilities affect us here in Indiana — and across the nation — in ways that go far beyond immigration enforcement. They are harmful to human rights, our economy, our communities, and the values we claim to stand for as Americans.
1. They Violate Human Rights
Reports from watchdog groups, journalists, and even federal investigations have documented overcrowding, medical neglect, and abuse inside ICE detention centers. Children have been separated from families, asylum seekers have been denied fair hearings, and detainees are often held in conditions worse than prisons — even though most have not been convicted of any crime.
Indiana cannot claim to be a state that values family and faith while quietly profiting from a system that tears families apart and locks people away in substandard facilities.
2. They Drain Taxpayer Dollars
ICE detention costs American taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Operating private detention centers — often run by for-profit corporations — is far more expensive than humane, community-based alternatives. Programs such as case management, legal aid, and supervised release cost a fraction of the price and have higher compliance rates with immigration court hearings.
Instead of investing in crumbling infrastructure, rural schools, and healthcare for Hoosiers, we are wasting money funding a system of incarceration that does little to solve the immigration process.
3. They Hurt Local Communities
In Indiana, detention centers are often placed in struggling rural towns with the promise of “jobs and economic growth.” But these facilities do not create sustainable economic opportunity. Instead, they bring short-term, low-paying, high-turnover jobs while leaving behind a stigma that makes it harder for communities to attract new businesses and families.
Moreover, families of detainees often move to these towns to be closer to loved ones, but with no support networks, they can become trapped in cycles of poverty. The strain on local schools, hospitals, and social services is real — and rarely addressed by ICE or private contractors.
4. They Undermine American Values
Our country was built on the idea of liberty, justice, and equal treatment under the law. Detention centers turn that principle upside down by holding people indefinitely, sometimes without trial, and subjecting them to mistreatment simply because of their immigration status.
When we normalize indefinite detention and dehumanization for one group, we weaken protections for all of us. If the government can lock up immigrants without due process, what does that mean for the rights of citizens down the line?
5. There Are Better Solutions
Alternatives to detention already exist — and they work. Programs such as community supervision, electronic check-ins, and legal aid have compliance rates as high as 99% while keeping families together. Instead of enriching private prison companies, we should be investing in solutions that are more humane, more affordable, and more consistent with our American values.
Conclusion: Indiana Must Lead With Values, Not Fear
ICE detention centers are not just a border issue — they’re a moral issue. For Indiana, embracing these facilities would mean turning our backs on compassion, wasting taxpayer dollars, and hurting the very communities that need real investment.
We can choose another path. One that prioritizes justice, fairness, and humanity — not mass incarceration and corporate profit.
Indiana should stand against ICE detention centers and lead with policies that reflect the best of who we are.
