Advocates for Kentucky’s immigrant communities say increased funding for ICE in the recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill” could result in more immigration sweeps.
The bill includes around $45 billion to fund immigration detention centers, and another $30 billion to hire more personnel, maintain ICE facilities, and cover transportation costs.
Nima Kulkarni is a state representative and immigration employment attorney out of Louisville. In an interview with WEKU's Eastern Standard, she said the money would fund agreements with local law enforcement to assist ICE.
“The growth in these agreements is partly due, or, in fact, you know, mostly due to promises of funding, promises of either direct funding or equipment inventory and things like that,” Kulkarni said.
A report from think tank Cato Institute says 65% of ICE detainees had no criminal conviction, and 93% were never convicted of a violent offense.
Kulkarni says executive orders from the federal government have created an “atmosphere of fear” in the communities she works with.
“It's a little bit of whiplash in terms of, one day you're lawfully present, tomorrow you may be considered illegal and a priority for deportation. And so it is very chaotic,” she said.
More with Kulkarni can be heard during the July 17 edition of Eastern Standard, which airs 1 p.m. and 8 p.m Thursdays.
