New Orleans police won’t enforce civil immigration law
The New Orleans police chief was criticized after comments suggesting the department would not enforce federal civil immigration laws ahead of planned ICE operations. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry sent a letter urging NOPD to immediately direct officers to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP, warning that noncooperation could constitute felony malfeasance under the state’s 2024 ban on sanctuary policies as City Council unrest and protests accompany the federal surge.
📌 Key Facts
- On Dec. 5, 2025, Louisiana Attorney General sent a letter urging the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities (ICE and CBP).
- The AG's letter specifically recommends NOPD 'immediately' direct officers to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP.
- The attorney general warned that noncooperation could amount to prosecutable felony malfeasance under state law, citing the state's 2024 ban on sanctuary policies.
- The AG's guidance is aimed at ensuring local compliance with federal civil immigration enforcement operations.
- The letter and the federal enforcement push come amid a federal surge operation in New Orleans.
- There has been City Council unrest and public protests in response to the federal surge operation and related immigration enforcement activity.
📊 Relevant Data
Louisiana had an estimated 110,000 undocumented immigrants in 2023, representing approximately 2.4% of the state's population of 4.6 million.
Immigration crackdown in New Orleans has a target of 5,000 arrests. Is that possible? — AP News
The New Orleans metro area had a foreign-born population of almost 100,000 residents in 2023, with just under 60% not U.S. citizens.
Immigration crackdown in New Orleans has a target of 5,000 arrests. Is that possible? — AP News
In Honduras, the homicide rate was 31 per 100,000 population in 2023, compared to 6.8 per 100,000 in the United States.
World Report 2025: Rights Trends in Honduras — Human Rights Watch
In a similar immigration enforcement operation in Chicago from early September through mid-October, of roughly 1,900 arrests, nearly 300 (about 15%) had criminal convictions, with the vast majority for traffic offenses, misdemeanors, or nonviolent felonies.
Immigration crackdown in New Orleans has a target of 5,000 arrests. Is that possible? — AP News
Violent crimes in New Orleans, including murders, rapes, and robberies, fell by 12% through October compared to the previous year, from a total of 2,167 violent crimes to 1,897.
Immigration crackdown in New Orleans has a target of 5,000 arrests. Is that possible? — AP News
📰 Sources (2)
- A new AG letter specifically recommends NOPD 'immediately' direct officers to fully cooperate with ICE and CBP.
- The AG frames noncooperation as potentially prosecutable felony malfeasance under state law, citing the 2024 sanctuary‑policy ban.
- Context notes City Council unrest and protests amid the federal surge operation.