February 4, 2025

Exodus Refugee Immigration closes doors in response to increased ICE threats

Doors are locked at the refugee resource center in Indianapolis. - Jill Sheridan / WFYI

Doors are locked at the refugee resource center in Indianapolis.

Jill Sheridan / WFYI

Non-profit Exodus Refugee Immigration announced last week that it is locking the doors to its Indianapolis building and moving appointments to virtual or off-site locations.

The organization’s decision came in response to President Donald Trump and Governor Mike Braun's immigration executive orders.

"There’s a lot of fear in the community, and we don’t want to put anyone at risk by having them congregate here," said Exodus CEO Cole Varga.

On his first day in office, Trump immediately began taking steps to crack down on immigration with executive orders including suspending refugee resettlement and declaring a national emergency at the southern border. The administration has also increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, activity and given permission for arrests to be made at churches and schools — places that had previously been listed as "protected areas."

Braun's order states that all state and federal law enforcement agencies must continue to comply with what the Trump administration asks them to do involving the deportation of immigrants without legal status.

Varga said the executive orders and rhetoric have put immigrants on edge, even those here legally.

"Unless people are carrying like a whole stack of documents or their work authorization card when they’re trying to just ride the bus downtown to get to our office, they could be targeted, and we want to just prevent any misunderstandings as much as possible and make sure that they’re safe and not panicking," Varga said.

Varga said the organization is still open and helping people. Anyone that needs assistance can call their office number at 317-921-0836.

"We'll review this policy, and hope to have our doors wide open again, to any clients that need it," he said. "But for now, we want to make sure that they’re safe and we’re not putting them at risk by having them come here."

Contact WFYI All Things Considered Newscaster and Reporter Samantha Horton at shorton@wfyi.org.

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