Jan. 28, 2025 | Immigration crackdown is affecting Fort Wayne

Hey Locals,
It's been a busy week of national headlines hitting home in Fort Wayne. Since President Donald Trump resumed office last week, his administration's rhetoric and proposed policy changes on immigration have already triggered fear, confusion and chaos in Allen County – not to mention looming questions about the economy. We break down what's happening locally (so far) – and what's needed.
We also follow up on The Guardian's ongoing series of stories about Parkview Health's exorbitant pricing with a new report about a bill introduced to the Indiana legislature that could "mean millions annually in tax obligations" from the nonprofit healthcare system, if it takes effect.
On a lighter note, our To Do List this week includes a new duckpin bowling venue to check out and lots of free ways to get out of the house, escape the internet and talk to people IRL.
Don't forget: There are still a few days left to claim your January offer! This month, all paid subscribers to The Local get one FREE climbing shoe rental with a climbing pass at Summit City Climbing Co. Did you know we give our paid members a freebie every month at a local business to cover the cost of membership? See what a paid membership is all about with this 30-day trial, and you can get that deal!
Now, let's get started!
NOTE: Links to Journal Gazette articles are marked(*) and may be behind a paywall.

Chaos. Confusion. And a looming threat to the local economy?
We break down how unwelcoming national policies and rhetoric on immigrants and refugees is already affecting Fort Wayne.

What's happening?
President Donald Trump's first week of his second term is already making waves in Fort Wayne, perhaps most notably causing chaos and confusion for (and about) local immigrants and refugees.
89.1 WBOI notes that "Trump ran on promises of mass deportation of undocumented immigrants," and "Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE agents have been reportedly rounding up suspected undocumented immigrants in communities around the country in recent days."
While much about Trump’s actions and policy changes remains unclear (and TBD by the court system), here are a few things we're seeing and hearing so far:
- Last week: we received a reader email regarding posts circulating on social media of heavily armed agents Downtown, at Glenbrook Mall and other locations, reportedly with ICE. The reader said: “I'd like to know more about what they're doing and who they're accountable to locally if anyone.” (To be clear: we were unable to confirm whether these agents were with ICE and what exactly they were doing.)
- We reached out: to the City of Fort Wayne and the Fort Wayne Police Department, and the Mayor’s office who did not explain the images and claims, but issued a statement Friday afternoon, noting that “the City of Fort Wayne cannot interfere” with ICE, and “local law enforcement is not in a position to assist or intervene in civil immigration enforcement.”
- Even so: an Indiana Capital Chronicle report says “law enforcement may soon be required to give federal authorities notice when they arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally,” pending House Bill 1393, which critics say could result in “racial and linguistic profiling.”
- We also received a report: that a U.S.-born, law-abiding citizen who works as a Spanish translator in Fort Wayne was stopped by police in Wells County yesterday on Jan. 27 and asked to present her passport. She says officers pulled her over while driving for suspecting she wasn't wearing a seatbelt (even though she was) and proceeded to question her about her supposed immigration status. Read her story (posted anonymously to protect her identity) here.
So what's happening to help immigrants and refugees?
- So far: along with the mayor, Fort Wayne Community Schools issued a statement last week to families "to make sure that all students and families feel safe and welcome at school." It noted that "FWCS is committed to not asking about a student or parent's immigration status" and does "not allow people to enter our school buildings without permission and proper clearance."
- You might remember: last year, I (Kara) reported on local leaders developing a "Welcomin Plan" for immigrants and refugees through the Gateways for Growth initiative led by Amani Family Services, Greater Fort Wayne Inc. and Downtown Fort Wayne. I followed up with each of these organizations for a statements and updates. So far, GFW Inc. and Downtown have responded, noting that immigrants are "essential" to Allen County's growth and vibrancy, contributing 24% of our community’s population growth and owning 1,300 businesses. Read their statements here.
- We also caught up with: Raquel Kline of Language Services Network who says statements (like these) supporting immigrant and refugee families are a critical first step to helping them during this uncertain time. “It shows that schools and organizations are committed to protect families,” she says. “The fear the families have is real.” Read our full Q&A with Kline here to learn more.
Why it matters
As WBOI noted: "Fort Wayne has a long history of immigration, including Germans in the 19th century, to Irish, and most recently Burmese along with Mexican and others from Central and South America." And along with humanitarian concerns about Trump's immigration policies, the way these orders are carried out may put Fort Wayne's growth and economy at stake.
How so?
- As GFW Inc. and Downtown mentioned: a report called New Americans in Allen County outlines how immigrants and refugees are hitting above their weight-class in the local workforce, GDP and population.
- In fact: about a quarter of Allen County's growth comes from immigrants, and across the state, international immigration was the primary driver of population growth in 2023, making Indiana the "fastest-growing state in the Great Lakes region." But some members of Fort Wayne's Latino community have already told WANE 15 that uncertainty is abound, and the concept of self-deportation (or immigrants choosing to relocate to more welcoming places) is spreading.
- What’s more: immigrants within Allen County are about 32.3% more likely to "actively participate in the labor force and contribute to the economy as taxpayers and consumers." They also "fill critical positions in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and hospitality." A looming question remains: If fewer immigrants live and work here (or feel comfortable showing up to work), will Allen County's employers be able to afford (or find) the labor they need?
Read more about these issues in our full Q&A.

- The Guardian published a third report on Parkview Health's high prices, noting that a new bill proposed in Indiana may address the issue. If passed, the bill threatens to strip non-profit hospitals of tax-free status if they "charge commercially insured patients more than 200% of what the federal government pays for the same services under Medicare." In 2023, Indiana legislators considered a bill that would have fined hospitals charging more than 260% of Medicare's rates (which Parkview has done two out of three years studied and tied that rate the third year). However, before the previous bill passed, the limit was raised to 285%, The JG* reports. Incoming Gov. Mike Braun says lowering health care costs will be his administration’s top priority, and State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, recently called on nonprofit health care providers, including Parkview and IU Health, to lower prices. In a December report by the RAND Corp., Parkview was once again listed among the top 10% of the highest relative prices* for medical care in the U.S. Parkview continues to dispute claims of wrongdoing, as it has done since The Guardian's original report. If enacted, Indiana's proposed bill would "mean millions annually in tax obligations for Parkview Health... should it choose to maintain its high prices," The Guardian says.
- Four female students at Bishop Luers High School are suing the school and local diocese (among others) for accusations of ignoring and minimizing sexual exploitation by three of their male classmates. The lawsuit claims the boys obtained pornographic images and videos of random girls and/or women on the internet and superimposed the full names of their female classmates on the materials before marketing and selling them to fellow students and Fort Wayne residents. It claims these activities began as early as 2022, and a total of 38 current and former female students at Luers have been victimized. It also says the school's administrators and the local diocese had known about the issue long before the female students and their parents found out, and officials failed to report or address the matter, allegedly for fear of falsely accusing the boys. The boys are being sued for multiple crimes, including child sexual exploitation by creating, editing, selling and distributing such content.
Plus: Plans progress for the fast-food block Downtown. Mayor Tucker's annual public safety update. And a new riverfront park. We cover it all in our premium newsletter.

- Play: a round of duckpin bowling at Pinhouse Social, now open at The Fairfield. The new event center between Downtown and Electric Works offers eight lanes of bowling on its main floor, along with cornhole, bocce ball, darts and of course, food and drinks. Upstairs you can also play a round of virtual golf on the second floor. (Bowling lanes can be reserved online for $40/hour for up to six people.)
- Celebrate: the Lunar New Year with a free event hosted by Riverfront Fort Wayne and Korea Fest at Promenade Park on Feb. 1, 12:30-4:30 p.m. The day features K-Pop Dances, a costume contest, karaoke, a selfie station, games, calligraphy and a "Tree of Wisdom to place your New Year's wishes."
- Browse: “Really Bad Art” at a free art exhibition opening at The Garden on Jan. 30, 6-8 p.m., all about artistic missteps. The evening includes a live Q&A with artists of all ages about the stories behind their "bad art" projects that didn't go as planned.
What else? We share more things to do in our premium newsletter.
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Have a great week, Locals!
-Your Editor, Kara Hackett