INDIANAPOLIS — For months, Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal said state law required him to renew a federal contract that allowed ICE to use up to 100 county jail beds. After public pushback, he asked city attorneys to weigh in on the matter. The city now tells 13 Investigates it is inappropriate for city attorneys to provide an opinion.

While the Office of Corporation Counsel typically represents city and county departments, a spokesperson from the city tells 13 Investigates the sheriff’s office uses an outside law firm and should seek an opinion from that company. As of publication, it was unclear if the sheriff’s office reached out to that firm for guidance.

The legal question came about after a Sept. 15 meeting the sheriff had with community members representing LiveFree Indiana a

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