Indiana Immigration Enforcement Update

Indiana employers should be aware of significant changes to the state's immigration enforcement landscape that may increase scrutiny of hiring and employment verification practices beginning July 1, 2026. Recent statements from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita indicate that employer compliance with federal work authorization requirements will be a key enforcement priority.

Under Indiana's newly enacted FAIRNESS Act, employers may face state-level penalties if they knowingly hire or continue to employ individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. The law grants the Attorney General authority to investigate alleged violations and seek civil penalties and other remedies through the courts.

While federal Form I-9 completion remains mandatory for all employers, Indiana's new law places additional emphasis on demonstrating good-faith efforts to verify employment eligibility.

State officials have identified the federal E-Verify program as one method employers can use to help establish due diligence in their hiring practices. For clients utilizing C2 Essentials' onboarding services, all newly hired employees are processed through E-Verify as part of our standard new-hire compliance procedures. This provides an additional layer of verification and helps support compliance with federal employment eligibility requirements.