A Louisiana wildlife agency has become embroiled in a controversy surrounding its collaboration with US immigration authorities. The department, responsible for enforcing hunting regulations and protecting wildlife reserves, has been assisting ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in detaining individuals suspected of immigration violations.
According to documents obtained by WIRED through a public record request, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) signed a memorandum of agreement with ICE in May. This agreement gives LDWF the authority to detain people suspected of immigration lawbreakings and transfer them into ICE custody.
Since then, at least six men have been taken into federal custody after coming into contact with or being detained by LDWF officers. None of these individuals were issued criminal charges at the time they were detained. In some cases, they had overstayed their authorized visa period or entered the country illegally. However, two of the men in question did have legitimate visas that expired.
LDWF has partnered with ICE under the agency's 287(g) program, which enables state and local law enforcement officers to perform some functions typically carried out by US immigration officials. The partnership allows LDWF agents to make joint patrols with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and the US Coast Guard.
Recent incidents have shown that these partnerships are being utilized in various locations across Louisiana. In August, three men were taken into ICE custody after a joint patrol by LDWF officers and CBP agents in Lake Borgne. These officers had been searching for individuals violating state regulations related to oyster harvesting. The report claims that no one witnessed any crimes or civil infractions during the operation but still identified three suspects for immigration issues.
Another incident, occurring in October, involved two LDWF officers who arrested a man with an unknown immigration status after he was found littering near Cypress Lake. He was issued a citation and subsequently reported to ICE due to "unverified citizenship." The exact current status of this individual remains unclear.
While the partnerships between state wildlife agencies and ICE have generated relatively little attention, they highlight concerns about local law enforcement's role in enforcing immigration laws.
According to documents obtained by WIRED through a public record request, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) signed a memorandum of agreement with ICE in May. This agreement gives LDWF the authority to detain people suspected of immigration lawbreakings and transfer them into ICE custody.
Since then, at least six men have been taken into federal custody after coming into contact with or being detained by LDWF officers. None of these individuals were issued criminal charges at the time they were detained. In some cases, they had overstayed their authorized visa period or entered the country illegally. However, two of the men in question did have legitimate visas that expired.
LDWF has partnered with ICE under the agency's 287(g) program, which enables state and local law enforcement officers to perform some functions typically carried out by US immigration officials. The partnership allows LDWF agents to make joint patrols with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and the US Coast Guard.
Recent incidents have shown that these partnerships are being utilized in various locations across Louisiana. In August, three men were taken into ICE custody after a joint patrol by LDWF officers and CBP agents in Lake Borgne. These officers had been searching for individuals violating state regulations related to oyster harvesting. The report claims that no one witnessed any crimes or civil infractions during the operation but still identified three suspects for immigration issues.
Another incident, occurring in October, involved two LDWF officers who arrested a man with an unknown immigration status after he was found littering near Cypress Lake. He was issued a citation and subsequently reported to ICE due to "unverified citizenship." The exact current status of this individual remains unclear.
While the partnerships between state wildlife agencies and ICE have generated relatively little attention, they highlight concerns about local law enforcement's role in enforcing immigration laws.
... I mean, don't get me wrong, hunting regulations are crucial and all that jazz, but at what cost? these partnerships between LDWF and ICE seem to be blurring the lines between law enforcement and immigration control. what does it say about our society when we're willing to hand over our local wildlife agencies to federal authorities for this purpose?
we're dealing with human beings here, not just statistics or policy briefs.
My kids are old enough now that they'd never be caught in this situation, but what about their friends who might not have had a choice over where they came from or when they came to America?
It feels like we're turning local law enforcement into federal authorities, and that's not what I want for my community.
. It seems like LDWF is getting into some pretty sensitive territory by collaborating with ICE. I mean, they're supposed to be protecting the wildlife and environment, not detaining people over immigration issues 
. And it's crazy that these partnerships are being used in non-immigration related operations, like oyster harvesting 
.
. I mean what about due process? What about due care for human beings?! We need to start questioning these kinds of partnerships ASAP!
. I mean, can you imagine being stopped by a wildlife officer just because you're not doing something right? It's like, we already have enough problems with law enforcement profiling people based on their skin color or accent... now they're doing it based on whether you've got the right visa papers or not? 
. And what's next, are they gonna start enforcing immigration laws at fishing spots too? It just feels like another layer of oppression to an already complicated system.
. It's not like they're just helping with oyster harvesting infractions or anything 
... it's about enforcing immigration laws on people who don't even know what they did wrong.
.
️. We should be working towards more community-based solutions, not relying on outdated immigration laws and partnerships with federal agencies. It's time for some real change, you know? 