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Sanctuary City Policy Causes Last Chance Warning from U.S. Department of Justice to New Orleans


BATON ROUGE, LA – New Orleans and four other sanctuary locales have been issued a final warning from the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) to provide additional evidence that they are in compliance with federal immigration law. 

In a letter today from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions – the USDOJ has informed New Orleans that, based on its preliminary review, the New Orleans Police Department policies and practices may violate 8 U.S.C. § 1373 – something Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has been warning city officials for over a year.

“Time and time again, I have warned Mitch Landrieu that his blatant disregard for the law would have serious consequences for the City of New Orleans,” said General Landry. “Unfortunately, the Mayor has ignored my many warnings and continued to risk the safety, security, and funding of our State’s citizens. Mitch Landrieu is playing politics at the expense of New Orleans.”

General Landry has persistently highlighted the violent crime epidemic sweeping New Orleans. 

Last year, General Landry wrote Mayor Mitch Landrieu informing him that the New Orleans policy was in violation of federal law. Regardless of political pushback – General Landry has continued to be the State’s most aggressive critic of sanctuary cities, supporting legislation the past two regular legislative sessions that would have eliminated sanctuary cities in Louisiana. However, the Louisiana State Senate refused to act on this issue of public safety. 

In June, General Landry led a group of states in defending President Trump’s executive order that directs the federal government to take lawful actions to ensure compliance with laws prohibiting sanctuary cities. As recent as last week, General Landry led another multi-state coalition in reinforcing support for individual states to prohibit sanctuary cities within their borders.

“Mitch’s reckless pursuit of national glamour and attention threaten the future of New Orleans,” concluded General Landry. “It is troubling that the Mayor continues to put his partisan politics ahead of public safety.”

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