Indiana Republican Governor Mike Braun, a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, has publicly criticized certain practices by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), questioning a rise in arrests of immigrants without criminal records in his state.
“If those numbers are accurate, I’d say that should raise eyebrows,” Mike Braun told Axios Indianapolis, responding to data showing that in June, around 23% of individuals arrested by ICE in Indiana had no prior charges or convictions—up sharply from just 6% in January, according to reporting from Latin Times.
A longtime advocate of tough immigration policies, Governor Mike Braun nevertheless believes ICE should focus its efforts on high-risk individuals. “I’ve always been clear on this: we need to start with the worst actors. And there are plenty of them,” he said.
While maintaining his support for strong border enforcement, Braun argued that the effectiveness of immigration policy depends on its ability to target those who pose a real threat, not law-abiding individuals. “I’m in favor of removing criminals who entered illegally, but if we’re going after others, then we’re probably not doing a good job,” he added, as quoted by Latin Times.
The governor’s comments come amid reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering using Camp Atterbury—a military installation in southern Indiana—as a temporary detention center for migrants, a proposal that has stirred debate locally.
Asked about the plan, Braun responded cautiously but said he was open to the idea, as long as basic human rights are upheld: “I wouldn’t even consider it if the treatment wasn’t humane,” he emphasized.
Braun’s remarks represent a notable shift from his earlier hardline stance.
A former U.S. Senator who built his political career riding the Trump wave, Braun stood out in past campaigns with combative messaging. One of his campaign flyers reminded voters that they would “know who backed Trump”—a phrase that some civil rights advocates saw as veiled intimidation, Latin Times noted.
His recent critique of ICE, however, suggests a move toward a more measured approach, particularly as the 2026 election season looms and public frustration over aggressive immigration enforcement grows.
On a separate hot-button issue, Braun was also asked about mounting pressure from conservative circles for full transparency regarding documents related to the death of financier Jeffrey Epstein, whose ties to political figures—including Donald Trump and Bill Clinton—continue to draw scrutiny.
“I think the American public deserves full transparency,” Braun told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “Let’s see what comes out. But at this point, the whole thing feels highly politicized,” he said, according to Latin Times, which described the governor’s comments as indicative of a gradual shift in his political posture.
While remaining firm on immigration, Braun is increasingly calling for more discretion in federal enforcement operations and greater openness in politically sensitive cases involving the nation’s elite.
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Source: Latin Times.
