U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan said the nation is facing “challenging times” when it comes to immigration enforcement, and he would like to find a bipartisan approach to address immigration.
Mrvan, D-Highland, said he does not support open borders, but he wants to find “a strong, humane, secure immigration policy.” A bipartisan approach would limit pendulum shifts in immigration policy, he said.
“The pendulum, right now, is enforcement and deportation. What the administration is doing is they are going beyond due process,” Mrvan said.
Mrvan said most people have seen videos depicting the “brutality and cruelty” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol officers arresting people. Further, “that brutality and cruelty is something that our society does not accept,” Mrvan said.
“I empathize with those families that are living in the shadows and are afraid to go out, who are here even legally and citizens. You have to keep in mind, in some instances, these are people who are trying and waiting to go through the process to become citizens of the United States,” Mrvan said.
Mrvan addressed multiple questions about immigration during a community conversation event at Calumet College of St. Joseph on Saturday afternoon. About 45 people attended the event, and many of the questions they submitted — via notecard — were about immigration.
Federal officials should take steps to minimize the “intimidation and fear” that ICE agents are inflicting on communities, “but yet still fulfill the obligation of making sure that our country is safe and secure,” Mrvan said.
“I want everyone in our community to feel safe and want to be a participant in our community. All I can do is put my name on policies that will do that,” Mrvan said.
To prevent the pendulum shifts in immigration policy, Mrvan said a bipartisan law should be passed by Congress.
Before President Donald Trump’s second term, Congress was moving forward with a bill that would increase the number of asylum judges and border patrol agents, and fund increased technology at ports and borders, Mrvan said.
“That’s what we need to do. We need to find common sense, bipartisan immigration legislation that can allow us to move forward as a nation that understands we prioritize being safe and secure, but it also is still a beacon of the world with Democracy and welcomes people to the American dream,” Mrvan said.
Mrvan was asked if he would support encouraging illegal immigrants to self deport and return legally. Mrvan said he would support a bipartisan policy “that does it in a humane way and secures our borders and continues to be a beacon of democracy in our country.”
Beyond immigration, Mrvan also talked about the government shutdown and redistricting in Indiana.
The House passed a short-term continuing resolution on Sept. 19 to keep federal agencies funded. Johnson, R-La., has kept the House out of legislative session ever since, saying the solution is for Democrats to simply accept that bill.
The government remains shut down as the Senate has repeatedly failed to pass the continuing resolution. Democrats insist that any bill to fund the government also address health care costs, namely the soaring health insurance premiums that millions of Americans will face next year under plans offered through the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Republicans insist they will not entertain negotiations on health care until the government reopens.
Mrvan said he voted against the continuing resolution because it did not include extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits, which will increase premiums by more than 100% next year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Before the shutdown, the Trump administration’s tax and spending law cut Medicaid, Medicare and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“This is a crisis worth fighting for,” Mrvan said. “We have to be able to find ways to make access for healthcare. We have to take care of the most vulnerable populations. The Big Beautiful Bill set the stage for where they are now.”
Mrvan said he wants to end the shutdown and “get back to work.”
Four people in attendance wore Make America Great Again and other pro-Trump articles of clothing. One of the men in the group asked Mrvan if he supports the “Democrat government shutdown” to increase spending for healthcare for illegal immigrants.
More Top Picks Can Light Sensitivity Be Permanent After A Concussion
The Affordable Care Act is only available to citizens, Mrvan said.
“The people who are receiving the Affordable Care Act (could be) a restaurant owner in the community. It was designed to be able to bring down costs and make sure all of us pay less for healthcare and reduce the deficit,” Mrvan said.
Since the administration’s tax and spending law increased the deficit, Mrvan asked the man if he questioned Republican members of Congress about why they supported increasing the deficit. He didn’t answer.
As Indiana moves toward a special redistricting session in December amid pressure from the Trump administration, it has been reported that the State Senate doesn’t have the votes to move forward with a revamped map. Mrvan said he appreciated the State Senators who opposed the measure.
“I commend those who have stood up to this point,” Mrvan said.
Redistricting typically occurs after census data is released, Mrvan said, and Indiana last completed redistricting in 2021. Four years ago, Republican state legislators boasted about how well Indiana’s Congressional districts were redrawn, Mrvan said.
Redistricting any state — a Democratic or a Republican state — midcensus will “accelerate extremism,” Mrvan said.
When asked how redistricting will impact him, Mrvan said he will seek reelection in 2026.