West Lafayette warned by state attorney general over sanctuary city law

West Lafayette officials were one of four cities in Indiana to receive a warning from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita demanding they repeal ‘sanctuary city’ policies, Rokita’s office said in a Friday release.

In a message the release described as “blunt,” Rokita told officials in East Chicago, Gary, Monroe County and West Lafayette to confirm the repeal of policies his office says enable illegal immigration or face legal action July 1st.

The Indiana General Assembly passed a law this year authorizing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities or units of local government not enforcing current Indiana laws banning sanctuary cities.

A “sanctuary city” is a term for a local unit of government that has adopted a policy to deliberately and intentionally disregard federal law and not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

“We welcome want-to-be-patriots to the United States who will add value to our country and want to live their lives under the values this country was founded upon,” Rokita said. “The first way they can show that is by following our laws. Those who do not follow our laws by entering our country legally should not be allowed to stay.”