The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), usually tasked with the management of wildlife and enforcement of hunting regulations, has recently partnered with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations. This partnership falls under the 287(g) program, which allows state and local agencies to perform certain immigration enforcement functions.
Documents obtained through a public records request indicate that LDWF signed a memorandum of agreement with ICE in May 2025, which has led to the detention of at least six individuals this year—none of whom faced criminal charges during their interactions with LDWF. Notably, two of those detained had been legally present in the U.S. at the time.
A report highlighted a joint operation conducted in August, where LDWF officers led a patrol alongside U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. They were allegedly searching for individuals violating state laws regarding seed oyster harvesting, but no crimes were observed. Despite this, three individuals were identified and arrested for immigration issues, all of whom were subsequently transported to federal detention centers.
In October, an additional incident report indicated that LDWF officers arrested three men who had been using firearms in a wildlife management area without the proper permits. During this encounter, immigration authorities were notified, leading to all three being taken into ICE custody—though it’s still unclear what their current immigration status is.
The recent expansions in the 287(g) program saw a significant increase, with over 1,000 agencies partnering with ICE. The LDWF is among a small group of state wildlife agencies to sign such agreements this year. This shift has raised concerns over the potential for non-criminal individuals being entangled in immigration enforcement while local agencies are focused on their primary public safety missions.
For further reading:
- ICE’s 287(g) program: ICE 287(g) Program
- ICE detainee locator: ICE Detainee Locator
