Louisiana's Attorney General Urges NOPD to Cooperate with Federal Immigration Authorities
A letter from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has recommended that the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick direct her department to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This comes amid a major federal enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of dozens of criminal illegal immigrants.
Murrill's letter stated that the NOPD policies appear to conflict with state law and could be interpreted as "sanctuary" policies, which generally prohibit local authorities from cooperating with federal law enforcement in immigration matters. She emphasized that the department must use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.
The request for cooperation was made during a time of heightened tensions between immigrant rights groups and law enforcement in New Orleans. A recent City Council meeting was disrupted by anti-ICE protesters who shouted down officials and clashed with police. The operation, referred to as "Swamp Sweep," has been criticized by immigrant rights groups and triggered growing unrest at city hall.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the operation, which will deploy 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans and surrounding areas for a two-month period. The intent is to remove "criminal illegal aliens roaming free thanks to sanctuary policies" that prevent local authorities from honoring ICE arrest detainers.
Murrill's letter advised Kirkpatrick to direct NOPD officers and staff to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP, adding that policies requiring officers and employees to refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities would be in violation of Louisiana law. The letter also noted that such actions could result in felony prosecution for malfeasance.
The situation highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities in the United States. As the debate over sanctuary cities and immigration policies continues, officials like Murrill are increasingly pushing back against what they see as incompatible local policies.
A letter from Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has recommended that the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick direct her department to fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities. This comes amid a major federal enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of dozens of criminal illegal immigrants.
Murrill's letter stated that the NOPD policies appear to conflict with state law and could be interpreted as "sanctuary" policies, which generally prohibit local authorities from cooperating with federal law enforcement in immigration matters. She emphasized that the department must use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.
The request for cooperation was made during a time of heightened tensions between immigrant rights groups and law enforcement in New Orleans. A recent City Council meeting was disrupted by anti-ICE protesters who shouted down officials and clashed with police. The operation, referred to as "Swamp Sweep," has been criticized by immigrant rights groups and triggered growing unrest at city hall.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the operation, which will deploy 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans and surrounding areas for a two-month period. The intent is to remove "criminal illegal aliens roaming free thanks to sanctuary policies" that prevent local authorities from honoring ICE arrest detainers.
Murrill's letter advised Kirkpatrick to direct NOPD officers and staff to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP, adding that policies requiring officers and employees to refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities would be in violation of Louisiana law. The letter also noted that such actions could result in felony prosecution for malfeasance.
The situation highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between law enforcement and immigrant communities in the United States. As the debate over sanctuary cities and immigration policies continues, officials like Murrill are increasingly pushing back against what they see as incompatible local policies.
They're already dealing with stress & pressure from community tensions. The idea of having 250 Border Patrol agents in the city for two months is also pretty overwhelming. I think we need to find a way to balance public safety with protecting our communities' trust in law enforcement. 
We can't just pit one group against another, it's not that simple. And what about the consequences for the officers who refuse to cooperate? That's gotta be a heavy burden to carry... 
. I'm not saying one side is right or wrong, but can't we just have an open conversation about this instead of it getting so heated? I live in Louisiana and I've seen the impact of immigration on our community - people from different backgrounds coming together and building a life here.
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i mean, dont get me wrong, i get it that ppl shouldnt be free to roam around if theyre criminals... but isnt there a way to balance that with letting local police build trust w/ their communities? 
also whats the deal w/ all these protests & riots in new orleans lately? seems like it's getting pretty heated over here 
it's like they're saying "we're not gonna protect our citizens if you're a non-citizen" which is just wild 
and what's worse is that this is happening in New Orleans where people are literally living in fear of getting deported 
the whole thing just feels so twisted 
. It's hard to navigate that kind of tension, especially when it's not just about cops and immigrants, it's about a whole community feeling anxious or scared 
and it's literally the cutest thing ever... anyway back to this news... I dont get why cant NOPD just do their job and follow state law? its not like theyre helping these ppl or anything... but at the same time, I feel bad for them if they have to cooperate with ICE... what do u guys think?