Congressman Mrvan talks redistricting, SNAP, immigration at 'Community Conversations' events

Each topic ultimately came back to Mrvan's continued criticism of Congressional Republicans and Republican President Donald Trump administration, whom Democrats, Mrvan included, blame for the shutdown.

"In these times, I believe Northwest Indiana residents, the people that I talk to, want to bridge divides," Mrvan said from the stage at the Lake County Government Center auditorium in Crown Point. "They want us to be able to find the solution to opening the government."

Constituents who attended Saturday's "Community Conversations" had the opportunity to write questions for Mrvan to answer. He spoke in Crown Point and was also scheduled to talk to constituents in Whiting.

Redistricting
Mrvan cautioned against what he viewed as dangers of Indiana becoming "an all-red state," referring to a theoretical state where every congressional district leans Republican — and said similar dangers would exist in "all-blue states."

"You will accelerate extremism," he said. "You will accelerate the mindset of people who are safe within that party who will get primaried by the far-right or the far-left, and you will have the most extreme, divided nation you could possibly have."

Mrvan commended Democratic and "moderate, common-sense Republican" state legislators in Indianapolis for "holding the line of the pressure of the President of the United States" and not — at least yet — caving to the Trump Administration's redistricting agenda.

Vice President J.D. Vance has visited the Indiana General Assembly twice in recent months in an attempt to convince GOP holdouts to redraw Indiana's congressional maps mid-decade to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 midterms. Typically, maps are redrawn at the start of each decade based on the census.

"They (state legislators) have stood their ground because they believe in the maps that they created four short years ago," Mrvan said. "So, to them, I commend them."

Republican Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has called a special session of the General Assembly that could happen as soon as Nov. 3 to consider drawing new congressional district boundaries that could eliminate Northwest Indiana's single congressional district in favor of a map that more heavily favors Republican candidates.

SNAP benefits
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits won't be issued in November because Congress has not yet approved the necessary spending legislation, and Trump is declining to tap a SNAP contingency fund intended to cover the cost of federal food assistance in an emergency.

In Indiana, there were 273,867 households, consisting of 571,594 adults and children — about 8% of the state's population — that received a total of $111.5 million in SNAP benefits in September. That averages out to $195 per person for an entire month's worth of food, or $6.50 per day, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

Mrvan said he would be at the Northwest Indiana Food Bank on Monday to oversee increased demand that's expected there and elsewhere in the Region, the state and the nation as a result of the pause.

"I don't have an 8-ball or a magic wand to be able to tell you what's gonna go on," he said, "but as I said, it's very cruel and intentional when you have the opportunity and the funds there for emergency situations to be able to provide for families who need food."

In a response to a written question by a member of the audience about whether he thought SNAP benefits would be released, Mrvan credited faith-based organizations, township food pantries and other community gathering places with responding to what he called a "crisis" by organizing food drives to support their neighbors.

"My job as a member of Congress is exactly what that question says: open up government, fund SNAP and make ourselves efficient," he said. "I am ready to work. I'm ready to go back. There are 50 votes in the Senate, 53. They (Republican senators) could pass and open this up right now. I call on upon the Senate Majority Leader (John Thune, R-South Dakota) to listen to the president, who just said that himself."

Immigration
Mrvan said it was imperative for the country to "find a middle ground solution" for how the government identifies, treats and handles people in the U.S. who are there illegally, or trying to come illegally.

But he was quick to condemn some of the tactics used by ICE agents in recent months that have included shooting protesters with pepper balls and breaking down doors to arrest alleged undocumented people.

There have been no credible reports in Northwest Indiana of any excessive force or breaking and entering by any ICE agents.

"The far, far swing on immigration is unacceptable," Mrvan said. "You can't throw people around, you can't kick in doors, and I believe we must, we must, in Congress pass a bipartisan bill that has a strong, secure, humane immigration policy."

He reiterated that he is "not for open borders" and that he wants "criminals who are violent and not from this country who are trying to be citizens to be deported."

In October, the Hammond Common Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution "prohibiting" ICE agents from using city property without city permission. The East Chicago Common Council declined at its last meeting to consider a similar resolution because of fear of possible repercussions.

Asked by The Times whether he supports Hammond and East Chicago in their public displays of resistance to the federal government's immigration agenda, Mrvan said his focus was on the federal level as it relates to Northwest Indiana, but added that he thought local leaders were approaching the issue sincerely.

"I'm not for open borders, but I do believe that Northwest Indiana is a melting pot," he said. "What the City of Hammond and other localities, and the City of East Chicago, choose to do as local officials, I believe they believe they are doing the right thing."