Attorney General Liz Murrill has issued a reminder to Louisiana residents and public officials about the legal consequences of interfering with federal immigration authorities during ‘Operation Swamp Sweep.’ In a statement, Murrill said, “Be Advised: It is against Louisiana law to obstruct ICE or Border Patrol. The penalty for Obstruction of Justice or Malfeasance in Office may include imprisonment with hard labor and thousands of dollars in fines.”
Louisiana law prohibits actions intended to hinder, delay, prevent, or otherwise interfere with federal immigration enforcement. According to state statute 130.1 on obstruction of justice, anyone who knowingly commits such acts can face up to one year in prison—with or without hard labor—and fines up to $5,000 if the offense involves a civil immigration proceeding.
Additionally, under statute 134 regarding malfeasance in office, it is illegal for any official to release an individual from custody without notifying U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if they are aware that the person entered or remained in the country unlawfully. The law also forbids officials from taking actions that intentionally hinder cooperation with federal immigration agencies such as ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Violators may be imprisoned for up to ten years or fined up to $5,000.
State law also bars any state entity, law enforcement agency, or local government body from adopting sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
