Louisiana AG urges NOPD to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities
In a significant move that has stirred controversy in New Orleans, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has urged Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to align the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) with federal immigration enforcement protocols. This recommendation follows a recent federal operation that led to the arrest of numerous undocumented immigrants with criminal records. In a letter dated Friday, Murrill expressed concern that NOPD’s current policies might contradict state law by resembling “sanctuary” practices, which typically restrict local law enforcement from collaborating with federal immigration authorities. Murrill emphasized that the NOPD should “use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,” highlighting the need for compliance with Louisiana’s 2024 legislation that prohibits sanctuary policies.
The backdrop to this recommendation is a heightened federal crackdown on immigration in the region, exemplified by the launch of Operation Catahoula Crunch. This initiative, which has dispatched 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans and its surroundings, aims to detain “criminal illegal aliens” who are allegedly unaccounted for due to local sanctuary policies. The operation has sparked significant backlash from immigrant rights advocates, culminating in a chaotic New Orleans City Council meeting where anti-ICE protesters clashed with law enforcement. These developments underscore the contentious atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement in the city, with activists arguing that such federal initiatives disproportionately target vulnerable communities and violate their rights.
Murrill’s letter to Kirkpatrick not only calls for a reassessment of NOPD’s policies but also warns that failure to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement could lead to serious legal repercussions for officers, including potential felony charges for malfeasance. As tensions rise between federal authorities and local advocates, the situation in New Orleans reflects broader national debates over immigration policy, local autonomy, and the role of law enforcement in immigration matters. The unfolding events in New Orleans could set a precedent for how cities across the United States navigate the complex interplay between state laws, federal immigration enforcement, and community relations.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is recommending
New Orleans
Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick direct the agency to cooperate with federal immigration authorities following a major federal enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of dozens of criminal illegal immigrants.
In a letter dated Friday to Kirkpatrick, Murill said the department’s 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.Â
“NOPD must ‘use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,'” the letter states. “I look forward to working with you and NOPD to ensure its policies and actions comply with state law.”
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“At this time, I recommend that you immediately direct NOPD officers and staff to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP,” she added, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).Â
Fox News Digital has reached out to Kirkpatrick, ICE and CBP.
In 2024, Louisiana enacted a law banning jurisdictions from adopting and implementing
sanctuary policies
.
“As Superintendent of NOPD you are responsible for the issuance and implementation of departmental policies,” the letter to Kirkpatrick states. “Policies that fundamentally require officers and employees to refuse to cooperate with ICE except in very limited circumstances violate Louisiana law and could subject the offender to felony prosecution for malfeasance.”
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The letter came amid a major federal immigration crackdown in the Louisiana region, as well as backlash from anti-ICE advocates.Â
A
New Orleans
City Council meeting was thrown into chaos Thursday as anti-ICE protesters stormed the chambers, shouted down officials and clashed with police.Â
The outburst came one day after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Operation Catahoula Crunch, a two-month federal initiative deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans and surrounding areas.Â
The operation, referred to by protesters as “Swamp Sweep,” has intensified backlash from immigrant rights groups and triggered growing unrest at city hall.
The intent is to remove “criminal illegal aliens roaming free thanks to sanctuary policies” that prevent local authorities from honoring ICE arrest detainers, DHS said.
