The Outstater

February 4, 2026

‘Home’ Needs Some Definition

COMMUNITY TRUST is breaking down as crime becomes more wanton, the roads are disintegrating in sub-zero temperatures and the city budget is not prioritized. So what is our mayor doing? Bringing casino gambling to town and establishing government grocery stores, to repeat complaints of mine, plus some new diversions.

Among the last is a seminar this weekend to allay the fears of anyone in our city in violation of U.S. immigration law. The mayor wants to make sure these “residents” and their activated friends understand the legal limitations under which an I.C.E. agent (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) can operate. That at least is my reading of a mealy-mouthed press release, to wit:

“I want to be in position to ease the burden of fear, explain the limitations we have at the local level of government, and give the public the chance to say what’s on their minds. I want residents to know that I will listen to you, I will fight for you, and I will work for you every day.”

The tip-off is that the seminar’s main speaker is an immigration attorney, someone who caters to those very fears. The presentation, then, may not include the following points:

• My city is indeed “a great place to call home,” as the mayor likes to say, but you don’t get to unilaterally declare it as such. In fact, if you are here without the proper documentation it is not your home at all. You are an uninvited guest at best and a usurper at worst.
• Ah, but you can change your status without submitting your five-year-old child to tearful incarceration, to cite a recent famously panned media trope,
• You can voluntarily self-deport free of charge, take your child with you and pick up some cash along the way. That includes a $2,600 “exit bonus,” free travel to where you have legal status, forgiveness of any fines or civil penalties for ignoring a prior order to depart, forgiveness of any I.C.E. arrest/detention while arranging departure, the ability to leave with all family members and time to wrap up personal affairs.
• Finally, you will be given a second chance to immigrate legally, and if successful (which is likely if you can find a job and won’t just be collecting welfare checks) claim our city as your “home.” In all, not a bad deal for someone who has blatantly broken the law.

Now, fears allayed, let’s fix some pot holes. — tcl

Our Site

Full use of this site, including access to the search function and the archive of past articles and journals, is now available to everyone.

Connect with Us

 

Our mission is to marshal the best thought on governmental, economic and educational issues at the state and municipal levels. We seek to accomplish this in ways that:

• Exalt the truths of the Declaration of Independence, especially as they apply to the interrelated freedoms of religion, property and speech.
• Emphasize the primacy of the individual in addressing public concerns.
• Recognize that equality of opportunity is sacrificed in pursuit of equality of results.

The Indiana Policy Review Foundation is a non-profit education foundation focused on state and municipal issues. It is free of outside control by any individual, organization or group. It exists solely to conduct and distribute research on Indiana issues. Nothing written here is to be construed as reflecting the views of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the legislature or to further any political campaign.

The foundation's white papers are intended to make scholarly research on Indiana issues more widely available to policy analysts and researchers. White Papers represent research in progress and are published to invite comment and discussion as preparation for their submission to academic journals and other professional publications. The authors are solely responsible for the content of their research and analysis.