INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun today announced a series of partnership agreements with federal immigration authorities to assist in deporting individuals unlawfully in the United States. The agencies announcing new cooperation agreements are the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Correction, and Indiana National Guard.

In a statement, Governor Braun reiterated the state’s partnership with federal immigration authorities, as first laid out in his January 28 executive order ensuring full cooperation:

“Indiana is not a safe haven for illegal immigration. Indiana will fully partner with federal immigration authorities as they enforce the most fundamental laws of our country.” — Governor Braun

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security has approved a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The 287(g) program authorizes ICE to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation’s communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.

This agreement is under a ‘Task Force’ model, authorizing designated Indiana Department of Homeland Security officers to perform immigration enforcement functions such as arrests, issuing detainers, taking and maintaining custody, and operating as a joint task force with ICE.

The Indiana State Police have entered into a similar agreement to assist and collaborate with federal immigration authorities in their work.

The Indiana Department of Correction has signed a Warrant Service Officer memorandum of agreement, authorizing designated Indiana DOC personnel to assist with immigration enforcement duties in jails and correctional facilities.

The Indiana Department of Correction has also started an agreement with federal immigration enforcement to identify and deport removable aliens who have been arrested for a crime and booked into Indiana correctional facilities.

The Indiana Department of Correction is working with ICE to make available up to 1,000 beds at Miami Correctional Facility.

Governor Braun is also anticipating further partnership between the Indiana National Guard and federal immigration authorities. As previously announced, Camp Atterbury will be available for temporary use by the Department of Homeland Security to house illegal aliens subject to deportation, with safety in mind for staff, detainees, and surrounding communities. This mission will not interfere with the Indiana National Guard’s ability to respond or their training readiness.

Evansville, IN  The Vanderburgh Humane Society has received a $25,000 grant investment from national nonprofit Petco Love in support of their lifesaving work for pets in the Southwestern Indiana region.

Petco Love is a national nonprofit leading change for pets by harnessing the power of love to make communities and pet families closer, stronger, and healthier. Since its founding in 1999, Petco Love has invested nearly $421 million in adoption and other lifesaving efforts. And Petco Love helps find loving homes for pets in partnership with Petco and more than 4,000 organizations — like ours — across North America, with more than 7 million pets adopted and counting.

“Our investment in the Vanderburgh Humane Society is part of more than $12M in investments recently announced by Petco Love to power local organizations across the country as part of our commitment to create a future in which no pet is unnecessarily euthanized,” said Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love. “Our local investments are only part of our strategy to empower animal lovers to drive lifesaving change right alongside us. We launched Petco Love Lost, a free national lost and found database that uses photo-matching technology to simplify the search for lost pets.”

“Petco Love’s commitment to supporting animal welfare agencies is so apparent in everything they do,” said Amanda Coburn, VHS Director of Advancement. “They have their finger on the pulse of what organizations are facing across the country, and they provide significant support without cumbersome requirements that take valuable time away from animal care. That matters!”

In their grant proposal, the VHS described how a national reduction in adoption rates, particularly for large dogs, is taking a toll on the organization. This has resulted in increased daily care costs (food, medical care, payroll, cleaning supplies, and water utility usage) alongside a reduction in projected annual adoption fee revenue. They said they will, “utilize this investment to continue to support our animal care staff, adoptions team, medical team, and volunteers so they can provide the best possible day-to-day care and enrichment for our pets while working diligently to find them loving homes.”

The Vanderburgh Humane Society is a nonprofit organization that serves more than 12,000 families per year. Since 1957, the VHS has cared for our community’s pets and the people who love them through several lifesaving programs and services.

WEEKLY DEATH REPORT JUNE 30 TO JULY 06, 2025