A Louisiana wildlife agency is turning a blind eye to immigration laws, detaining people for ICE. The state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has partnered with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the agency's 287(g) program, which enables local officers to enforce federal immigration laws.
According to documents obtained by Wired, at least six men were taken into federal custody after coming into contact with or being detained by LDWF officers. None of the men were issued criminal charges at the time they came into contact with the wildlife agency, and two of them were known to have been in the country legally.
The partnership between LDWF and ICE has raised concerns about the detention of people who are not suspected of any crimes. The state's 287(g) program allows local agencies to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations, even if they have committed no crime.
In one incident, three men were arrested after a joint patrol by LDWF officers and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Lake Borgne, Louisiana. The men had been accused of violating state laws related to oyster harvesting, but none were issued criminal charges. Instead, they were taken into ICE custody.
The partnership between LDWF and ICE has expanded significantly this year, with over 1,000 agencies enrolling in the 287(g) program, a 693% increase compared to last year. The state's wildlife agency is one of only three in the country that have signed agreements with ICE under the program.
Critics argue that these partnerships are problematic, as they allow local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement without sufficient oversight or due process protections. In some cases, individuals have been detained and deported after being issued civil citations for minor infractions.
The LDWF has defended its partnership with ICE, saying it is necessary to protect public safety and enforce laws related to wildlife management areas. However, the agency's actions raise questions about the role of immigration enforcement in local law enforcement agencies and whether these partnerships are constitutional.
According to documents obtained by Wired, at least six men were taken into federal custody after coming into contact with or being detained by LDWF officers. None of the men were issued criminal charges at the time they came into contact with the wildlife agency, and two of them were known to have been in the country legally.
The partnership between LDWF and ICE has raised concerns about the detention of people who are not suspected of any crimes. The state's 287(g) program allows local agencies to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations, even if they have committed no crime.
In one incident, three men were arrested after a joint patrol by LDWF officers and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Lake Borgne, Louisiana. The men had been accused of violating state laws related to oyster harvesting, but none were issued criminal charges. Instead, they were taken into ICE custody.
The partnership between LDWF and ICE has expanded significantly this year, with over 1,000 agencies enrolling in the 287(g) program, a 693% increase compared to last year. The state's wildlife agency is one of only three in the country that have signed agreements with ICE under the program.
Critics argue that these partnerships are problematic, as they allow local law enforcement to engage in immigration enforcement without sufficient oversight or due process protections. In some cases, individuals have been detained and deported after being issued civil citations for minor infractions.
The LDWF has defended its partnership with ICE, saying it is necessary to protect public safety and enforce laws related to wildlife management areas. However, the agency's actions raise questions about the role of immigration enforcement in local law enforcement agencies and whether these partnerships are constitutional.
I'm all for protecting our environment and wildlife, but holding people back for a fishin' license? 
That's just too much, man... I mean, what's next? Checkin' folks for a valid ID before lettin' 'em through the border? 
It seems like these LDWF officers are gettin' too big for their britches, if you ask me. They're not exactly wildlife experts, they're just regular law enforcement officers doin' their job... but now they're gettin' mixed up with immigration laws? That's just a recipe for disaster, bro... 
. I mean, what's next? Police showing up at your doorstep because you're hanging a bird feeder that's not exactly in the regulations 
. Six guys get picked up for no reason and ICE wants them back outta here 
? That's just crazy town, man 
. I'm all about keeping our communities safe, but this is ridiculous 
. We gotta make sure we're doing it right, you know? Checking the constitution, following procedure... all that jazz 
. The fact that there have been some minor issues with due process and oversight is just a small price to pay for the increased public safety and protection of our oyster harvesting laws 
. I mean, come on, if a guy's going to break the law, he should be detained by ICE regardless of what state he's in. It's not like they're going around targeting people based on their immigration status or anything... that would be unfair 
. We need more agencies like LDWF working together with federal law enforcement to keep our communities safe! 