Louisiana AG Urges NOPD to Collaborate with Federal Immigration Authorities
Liz Murrill, the Attorney General of Louisiana, has advised New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick to instruct her department to work together with federal immigration agencies. This recommendation follows a significant federal operation that led to the arrest of numerous undocumented immigrants involved in criminal activities.
In a letter dated Friday, Murrill pointed out that the NOPD’s current policies might contradict state law. She expressed concern that these policies could be seen as creating a “sanctuary” environment, which generally means that local governments do not work with federal law enforcement on immigration issues.
“NOPD must use ‘best efforts to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws,’” Murrill stated. She also mentioned her readiness to collaborate with the NOPD to ensure compliance with state regulations.
Murrill’s letter emphasized the need for NOPD personnel to immediately cooperate with both U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She cited a law enacted in Louisiana in 2024 that forbids jurisdictions from creating sanctuary policies.
“As the Superintendent of the NOPD, you hold the responsibility for creating and enforcing department policies,” Murrill wrote. “A policy that requires officers to refrain from working with ICE unless under very specific circumstances violates Louisiana law and could result in felony charges for misconduct.”
This letter arrives during a period of intense federal immigration enforcement in Louisiana, coinciding with strong reactions from anti-ICE activists. Recently, a New Orleans City Council meeting turned chaotic as protesters opposed to ICE actions disrupted the proceedings, resulting in clashes with police.
The unrest followed the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement of Operation Catahoula Crunch—a two-month initiative aimed at deploying 250 Border Patrol agents to New Orleans and nearby regions. Activists labeled this crackdown as “Operation Swamp Clearance,” further escalating protests from immigrant rights groups and triggering turmoil at City Hall.
The objective of this DHS operation, as stated, is to detain “criminal illegal aliens who roam free because of sanctuary policies” that limit local authorities’ ability to engage with ICE.
