Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is suing the town council of Merrillville for claims local officials are interfering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The 23-page court filing cites the FAIRNESS Act that prohibits local government, schools and law enforcement from impeding ICE operations. The lawsuit lists two Merrillville property owners — Opus Development Company and Tradeline Properties LLC — that Rokita claims town officials prevented potential sales of facilities to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Merrillville Town Council passed the resolution in January opposing the conversion of existing industrial warehouses for detaining people, with concerns about using buildings not intended for human occupation. The resolution does not prevent ICE from purchasing buildings or developing a detention facility in the town, but Rokita claims officials have interfered in potential real estate transactions.