NEW ORLEANS, LA – Amid a recent report by the U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) noting that New Orleans recently failed to
cooperate with and honor ICE detainer requests, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff
Landry has sent U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions a letter calling on the
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take action in jurisdictions like New
Orleans that fall under federal supervision.
“I am writing to raise the issue and clear up my concerns on
how the Orleans Parish Prison, now under control of a federal court-ordered
monitor and director, can violate federal law when it comes to cooperation with
ICE,” wrote Landry. “Since the federal government is in essence running this
facility, it seems any person arrested in the City of New Orleans and therefore
booked in the Orleans Parish Prison could be immediately processed if under an
ICE detainer request.”
Last year – Landry spearheaded efforts in Louisiana to
prohibit sanctuary policies that undermine the rule of law, invite crime, and
make our citizens less safe. During those efforts, it was noted that the DOJ
mandated the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) – through a consent decree –
to adopt policies that created a sanctuary jurisdiction for illegal aliens.
Upon raising concerns of the Obama Administration requiring
cities, law enforcement agencies, and peace officers to not cooperate with
federal authorities – measures were taken by the NOPD to remedy the violations;
but those fell well short of their duty to cooperate completely with federal
law.
Adding to the New Orleans intrigue was a 2013 consent decree
for the Orleans Parish Prison and a 2016 court-ordered independence compliance
director. But as Landry noted in his letter to Sessions: unlike the NOPD
consent decree and policies, the consent decree for the Orleans Parish Prison
actually envisions cooperation and communication with ICE officials.
So Landry is urging Sessions to continue doing all that he
can to rid the country of sanctuary cities and encourage law enforcement
agencies to work in compliance with federal immigration authorities.
“I believe that actions taken by the DOJ can influence the
changes necessary to remedy this incongruence of policies created by the Obama
Administration,” added Landry. “While there is much to be done to achieve
compliance nationwide, I urge you to look at those cities and jurisdictions
under federal supervision as a starting point for the implementation of your
Administration’s changes in policy.”
