Mrvan Sends Letter in Opposition to Potential ICE Detention Facility in Merrillville

Washington, DC- Today, Rep. Frank J. Mrvan sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in opposition to a potential ICE detention facility in Merrillville.

The text of the letter is below and a pdf is available here.

"I am steadfast in my opposition to open borders and believe that individuals apprehended while committing crimes should be afforded due process and prosecuted accordingly. However, I am deeply troubled by this Administration's pattern of actions that undermine the constitutional civil liberties guaranteed to all people under the laws of the United States.

"Across the country, we have witnessed troubling examples of unidentified federal enforcement officials conducting operations without clear cause, questioning individuals absent lawful justification, and creating fear in communities. The Fourth Amendment protects all people from unreasonable searches and seizures, and no American should be expected to prove their identity without legal cause. Recent incidents involving federal agents forcefully disarming lawful gun owners also raise serious Second Amendment concerns.

"It is with these constitutional concerns in mind that I strongly oppose any plan to convert a commercial warehouse in Indiana's First Congressional District into an ICE detention facility.

"The Town of Merrillville and surrounding public safety departments have made clear to my office and the public that they were not consulted in this decision. While not required, my office was also not notified. This lack of transparency raises serious public safety and infrastructure concerns for our community. I respectfully call on the Administration to reverse any decision to convert commercial buildings for the purpose of detaining individuals in our district.

"In December 2025, The Washington Post reported on internal ICE plans to convert warehouses nationwide into detention and processing centers, including in Merrillville. Town officials later confirmed the report and stated the news came as a "complete shock," with no prior communication from ICE, DHS, or any federal agency. This absence of notice has understandably raised alarm among residents, local elected officials, and law enforcement leaders, many of whom have stated that existing budgetary constraints leave them without the capacity to divert resources from their current public safety responsibilities.

"Additionally, converting an industrial warehouse designed for commercial use into a detention facility presents serious health and safety concerns for detainees. The facility in question was not designed for human habitation and lacks the infrastructure necessary to safely accommodate individuals for extended periods.

"For these reasons, I strongly urge the Administration not to pursue the establishment of an ICE detention facility in Indiana's First Congressional District."

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