Editing Seymour, Indiana (section)

===21st century===
Thanks to the efforts of then Lt. Governor [[John Mutz]] and community leaders at the Jackson County Industrial Development Corporation, [[Aisin]] constructed a factory in Seymour in 1986,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-05-16 |title=Article clipped from The Tribune |pages=1 |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune/96995282/ |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref> with production beginning in 1989 with wide public support.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-05-22 |title=Article clipped from The Tribune |pages=20 |work=The Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune/96994977/ |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref> Initial estimates suggested 200 new employees, but by 2020, Aisin employed more than 2,000 local residents. This factory has since been expanded and supplies components for [[Honda]], [[General Motors]], [[Mitsubishi]], [[Nissan]] and [[Toyota]].<ref>The Tribune (Seymour, Indiana) · May 22, 1986, Thu · p. 20, Downloaded on March 5, 2022</ref><ref>The Tribune (Seymour, Indiana) · May 16, 1986, Fri · p. 1, Downloaded on March 5, 2022</ref>

The {{convert|106|mi|km|abbr=on}} north-south railroad line that serves Seymour was purchased by the [[Louisville and Indiana Railroad]] from [[Conrail]] in March 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 5, 2003 |title=Amtrak to Drop Louisville to Indianapolis Route |pages=A2 |work=The Madison Courier |agency=Associated Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E8NJAAAAIBAJ&dq=louisville+and+indiana+railroad&pg=PA2&article_id=6933,414778 |access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref> The Seymour Diamond Crossing is a good place to also watch the east-west railroad line, which CSX upgraded in 2016 for reliable higher speed operation.<ref>[https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/media/press-releases/increase-in-number-length-and-speed-of-trains-on-csx-tracks-from-seymour-to-butlerville-indiana/ SEYMOUR, Ind. – August 22, 2016]. CSX Press Release. Accessed December 10, 2022.</ref> The Louisville and Indiana Railroad served as a short-line railroad to provide switching services for access to the CSX mainline.<ref>[https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/customers/short-line-and-partner-railroads/short-line-map-and-directory/short-line-directory-profile/?i=LIRC LIRC Profile.] CSX Short Line Directory. Accessed December 10, 2022.</ref>

Immigration from [[San Sebastián Coatán]], [[Guatemala]], began about 1989 as indigenous [[Chuj people]] found the [[American Dream]] in the United States. As word spread to their families and friends in their hometown about the quality of life in Seymour, more families journeyed from their poverty-stricken part of Guatemala to a newer, more fruitful life in the U.S. Immigrants from Guatemala as of 2020 make up more than 10% of the local population.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/things-that-matter/indigenous-guatemalan-migrants-community-in-indiana/ | title=Indigenous Guatemalan Migrants Have Created a Thriving Community in a Small Town in Indiana | date=November 24, 2021 }}</ref>

In November 2019, the city unveiled a large mural of John Mellencamp, painted on the side of a local guitar store. The store's owner, Larry McDonald, is a longtime friend and former bandmate of Mellencamp. The Mellencamp family donated $50,000 to help turn the former parking lot into a green space so more people could enjoy the mural painted by artist Sue Bliss.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Mellencamp donates $50K to build a plaza in his "Small Town," next to a mural honoring him |url=https://www.ktlo.com/2020/01/06/john-mellencamp-donates-50k-to-build-a-plaza-in-his-small-town-next-to-mural-honoring-him/ |website=KTLO |access-date=March 16, 2022 |date=January 6, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2024, Indiana [[Attorney general|Attorney General]] [[Todd Rokita]] issued a civil investigative demand to ensure the city complies with state immigration policies. Specifically, the AG requested records to determine if the city is acting as a ''[[De Facto]]'' sanctuary city and to produce data on individuals who may have committed the specific crime of driving without a license, as well as all misdemeanor violations except for driving without a license.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Noakes |first=Alena |date=2024-10-25 |title=Indiana Attorney General investigating if Seymour is acting as a sanctuary city |url=https://www.wave3.com/2024/10/25/indiana-attorney-general-investigating-if-seymour-is-acting-sanctuary-city/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=WAVE 3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reports |date=2024-10-23 |title=Rokita investigating Seymour, South Bend immigration policies, Seymour police issue response |url=https://www.therepublic.com/2024/10/23/rokita-investigating-seymour-south-bend-immigration-policies/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=The Republic News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.wave3.com/video/2024/10/24/indiana-attorney-general-investigating-if-seymour-is-acting-sanctuary-city/ |title=Indiana Attorney General investigating if Seymour, IN is acting as a sanctuary city |date=2024-10-25 |language=en |access-date=2024-10-29 |via=www.wave3.com}}</ref> On the same day, Seymour Mayor Matt Nicholson canceled a regularly scheduled city council meeting. In response, Seymour Common Council member Drew Storey held an impromptu community meeting to address concerns about the city's rapidly growing population. Census data shows that over the past 20 years, Seymour's Hispanic population increased from 4.8% to approximately 13%, and the overall population grew by about 3,000 people. "The growth that we've seen and experienced in just the past few years is exceeding our ability to deal with it, as we're seeing through other communities throughout the state," said State Representative and Seymour resident [[Jim Lucas (politician)|Jim Lucas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Perrone |first=Logan |date=2024-10-29 |title=Seymour leaders hear resident concerns over city's undocumented population |url=https://www.wave3.com/2024/10/29/seymour-leaders-hear-resident-concerns-over-citys-undocumented-population/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=WAVE 3|language=en}}</ref> During the same twenty-year period, Seymour has seen an increase in crimes stemming from immigration; including the 2024 arrests of one undocumented immigrant for performing dentistry without a license, and a second for selling prescription medicine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Erika |date=2024-03-20 |title=Seymour man arrested for practicing dentistry without Indiana license |url=https://tribtown.com/2024/03/20/seymour-man-arrested-for-practicing-dentistry-without-indiana-license/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Seymour Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Erika |date=2024-10-25 |title=Store owner charged with selling prescription medications |url=https://tribtown.com/2024/10/25/store-owner-charged-with-selling-prescription-medications/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=Seymour Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>