Carmel Residents Urge Action Against Planned ICE Office

Community members voice concerns over federal immigration enforcement presence in suburban Indianapolis

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:21am

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A cinematic painting of a nondescript government office building in warm sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of unease and isolation about the planned ICE presence in the community.The planned ICE office in Carmel has sparked deep concerns about increased surveillance and aggressive tactics that could erode trust in local law enforcement.Carmel Today

Carmel residents and local advocates gathered at a town hall event to express opposition to the planned opening of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in their suburban Indianapolis community. Speakers shared personal stories of the fear and impacts they've witnessed from ICE operations, and called on city officials and the property owner to prevent the office from opening.

Why it matters

The planned ICE office has sparked concerns among Carmel's diverse immigrant community about increased surveillance, racial profiling, and the potential for aggressive deportation tactics. Residents worry the office's presence will erode trust in local law enforcement and create an atmosphere of fear, especially for undocumented immigrants and their families.

The details

The town hall event was organized by the nonprofit Common Cause Indiana and featured speakers including immigration attorney Sharon Cruz, Carmel City Councilor Anita Joshi, and Carmel High School student Maaike Mora. Attendees shared personal stories of ICE detaining immigrants during routine traffic stops and denying them basic rights and access to medical care. They called on city officials to publicly oppose the ICE office and urged the property owner, JLL, to reconsider leasing the space to the federal agency.

  • The town hall event took place on March 30, 2026.
  • Initial reports of the planned ICE office surfaced in February 2026.

The players

Sharon Cruz

An immigration attorney who previously worked in criminal and civil litigation, and is now learning more about the rapidly evolving immigration law landscape.

Anita Joshi

A Carmel City Councilor who attended the town hall and spoke out against the planned ICE office, saying the city "does not accept fear as part of daily life" and does not want ICE operating in a way that "brings fear into our neighborhoods."

Maaike Mora

A Carmel High School student who shared stories of immigrant friends and family members being detained by ICE during routine interactions with police, without criminal records, and denied basic rights and access to medical care.

JLL

The commercial real estate firm that manages the building where the planned ICE office is set to open near I-465 and U.S. 31 in Carmel.

Julia Vaughn

The executive director of Common Cause Indiana, the nonprofit organization that hosted the town hall event.

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What they’re saying

“I want our communities to be able to trust our law enforcement partners, and they're not going to be able to do that if they're under constant threat of deportation.”

— Sharon Cruz, Immigration Attorney

“We do not accept fear as part of daily life in Carmel. We do not accept a system that operates without transparency or accountability. We do not want ICE operating here in a way that brings fear into our neighborhoods and operating with fear against our neighbors.”

— Anita Joshi, Carmel City Councilor

“They should be able to have fair due process. They should be able to have a standard phone call and be exposed to basic human decency, or in other words, not a surprise arrest or kidnapping. This deceit, this trickery, all based on racial profiling in the first place, should not be allowed to happen anywhere in the country, and especially not a part of Carmel.”

— Maaike Mora, Carmel High School Student

What’s next

Attendees urged others to vote, contact local and federal representatives, film any ICE interactions in the community, and let the property owner JLL know they do not approve of leasing office space to ICE. Common Cause Indiana plans to send a list of questions compiled from the meeting to all Carmel city councilors and organize another public meeting to present answers.

The takeaway

The planned ICE office in Carmel has sparked deep concerns among the community about increased surveillance, racial profiling, and aggressive deportation tactics that could erode trust in local law enforcement and create an atmosphere of fear, especially for undocumented immigrants and their families. Residents are calling on city officials and the property owner to take action to prevent the office from opening.