INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – An Indiana nonprofit assisting refugees and immigrants believes a state probe into potential labor trafficking is completely unjustified.

Exodus Refugee Immigration CEO Cole Varga told I-Team 8, “It’s a fishing expedition, and we’re not interested in playing along.”

The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Exodus Refugee against Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.

The Republican attorney general sent a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) essentially asking for a comprehensive audit of Exodus Refugee’s last three years in operation, including funding, activities or policies impeding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and actions involving people in the country illegally. News 8 first reported on Rokita’s action on Sept. 8.

“Hinting at accusations of bringing in undocumented folks to flood Indiana, there does seem to be some kind of race-baiting,” Varga said. 

Rokita sent multiple organizations CIDs, seeking for information on potential labor trafficking and groups harboring people in the U.S. illegally.

Without speculating on Rokita’s motivations, Varga said the investigation seems inherently anti-immigrant in the impact it could have on the work of Exodus and other organizations. 

“Out of the clear blue sky demanding basically every single document, every single conversation, even every single thought we’ve had to just be turned over to the attorney general without any backing or any evidence,” Varga said.

A news release from Rokita’s office said the investigation itself is not an accusation of wrongdoing, but described Exodus Refugee as a “nonprofit that provides services to illegal aliens.”

The ACLU lawsuit sees that depiction as “accusatory in tone.” 

“The CID is part of a continuing pattern by the Attorney General of sending unreasonable and unlawful requests to immigrant service organizations,” the lawsuit says. “These appear to be designed to advance a personal political agenda and to punish and deter organizations that assist, advocate for, and associate with immigrants and refugees.”

According to the lawsuit, the God is Good Foundation in Evansville stopped its refugee resettling efforts after Rokita issued a CID.

Varga said the federal government vets his organization’s clients. Many were rescued from human trafficking operations. “The folks we serve are quite anxious right now, even those that have (legal) status because it doesn’t seem to matter.”

In the Sept. 8 release announcing the CID, Rokita said, “The mass movement of illegal aliens and others into Indiana has exposed our communities to significant public safety risks, including increased concerns about labor trafficking.”

Indiana has joined the broader increased immigration enforcement in President Donald Trump’s second term.

When Republican Gov. Mike Braun issued an executive order for all statewide law enforcement agencies to work with ICE, Exodus Refugee temporarily suspended in-person services. It has offices in Indianapolis and Bloomington.

Camp Atterbury, which once welcomed thousands of Afghan refugees escaping the Taliban at its facilities near Edinburgh, is planned to be used as an ICE detention facility along with the Miami Correctional Facility near Bunker Hill.

“The temperature is different now for immigrants and refugees and for those that serve them,” Varga said. “We’ve seen ICE terrorizing people across the country, detaining people.”

Varga said Exodus Refugee Immigration has no intention of shutting down. The lawsuit seeks to stop the CID on the grounds it violates the First Amendment, and recoup any costs or damages. 

News 8 reached out to Rokita’s office for an interview but was unable to schedule one before the publishing of this story.

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