Louisiana Wildlife Agency's Role in Immigration Detentions

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has entered into a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing the agency to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations. This agreement, signed in May 2023, is part of ICE's 287(g) program, which enables local and state agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. Since the agreement's inception, LDWF has assisted in the detention of at least six individuals, none of whom faced criminal charges at the time of their encounters with LDWF officers.

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Documents obtained by WIRED reveal that two of the detained individuals were known to be in the U.S. legally when taken into custody. The LDWF has conducted joint patrols with officers from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard, although the memorandum does not explicitly mention collaboration with CBP. The LDWF is one of only three state wildlife agencies, alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, to have signed a 287(g) agreement with ICE this year.

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The expansion of the 287(g) program has seen a significant increase in local agency participation, with 1,053 agreements signed in 2023 alone, marking a 693 percent rise compared to the previous year. This trend has raised concerns about the potential for local agencies to engage in immigration enforcement, particularly in contexts unrelated to their primary responsibilities, such as wildlife management.

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Critics argue that the LDWF's involvement in immigration enforcement undermines its primary mission of wildlife conservation and management. The detentions of individuals without criminal charges have sparked debate about the appropriateness of wildlife agencies participating in immigration enforcement activities. The lack of clarity regarding the status of the detained individuals has further fueled concerns about the transparency and accountability of such operations.

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ICE spokesperson Angelina Vicknair stated that the agency could not confirm the status of the detained individuals due to insufficient information provided in inquiries. The LDWF has responded to specific incidents but has not provided comprehensive comments on the broader implications of its agreement with ICE.

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While the LDWF has documented instances of detaining individuals, there is a lack of detailed information regarding the outcomes of these detentions, including whether individuals were released or deported. Additionally, the absence of responses from CBP raises questions about the extent of collaboration between these agencies.

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• “The marked expansion of the 287(g) program this year has generated relatively little attention.” — WIRED Report

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• “We’ll need you to narrow it down.” — Angelina Vicknair, ICE Spokesperson

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The involvement of the LDWF in immigration enforcement through its partnership with ICE highlights a growing trend of local agencies engaging in federal immigration activities, raising important questions about the implications for both wildlife management and immigrant rights.

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