Candidate Issues Statement on ICE
State Senator J.D. Ford, candidate for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, released the following statement today as the Department of Homeland Security enters a partial government shutdown. Ford is calling for an end to “blank check” funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and demanding transparency regarding reports of a new ICE facility in Carmel.
“ICE just received $75 billion in federal funding a few months ago, and we can’t continue to provide blank checks to an unaccountable agency. We need enforceable, common-sense guardrails in place, but the Republican majority in Washington is playing games with people’s paychecks and our lives.
Beyond the core demands of ending roving patrols and unmasking agents, we must address these systemic failures with aggressive accountability. DHS received $165 billion in federal funding in the summer and can afford to enact these measures immediately:
- Mandate Body Cameras and ensure footage of use-of-force incidents is released to the public.
- End Masked Raids, requiring agents to clearly identify themselves and present signed judicial warrants before entering any home.
- Increase Training Standards by requiring federal agents to meet or exceed the rigorous de-escalation standards of local professional law enforcement.
- Reverse DOGE cuts and restore staffing in immigration courtrooms to process immigration documentation efficiently and effectively.
This is about more than border security. It’s about American lives. We need to stop the cosplaying and start truly protecting our communities. Let’s work together across agencies, across municipalities, and across the aisle to do what’s right for our country.”
About J.D. Ford: J.D. Ford is a two-term state senator, Democratic Senate Caucus Whip, and previously served as the Caucus Chair. Ford, known for his people-first approach, flipped a long-held Republican district by listening to the needs of Hoosiers. Ford is the first and only out-serving member of the Indiana General Assembly. The 43-year-old received a master’s degree in education from Purdue University Northwest and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Akron.
For more information, visit www.electjdford.com.