(The Center Square) − A new state law requiring Louisiana law enforcement agencies to comply with written federal immigration detainers went into effect today, following heated debate over its implications for local jurisdictions like Orleans Parish that are bound by federal consent decrees.
Senate Bill 15, authored by Sen. Morris and passed by a 70-31 House vote in June, amends Louisiana’s obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office statutes to criminalize actions by public officials or private actors that “thwart” federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The law exposes law enforcement officers to potential fines and jail time if they fail to cooperate with detainers from federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement…