The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched Operation Catahoula Crunch, an immigration enforcement sweep, in New Orleans on Dec. 3.
Masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been seen in New Orleans and surrounding areas, detaining individuals and conducting raids.
Because of concerns regarding ICE unjustly profiling residents, many individuals film interactions with agents in order to deter unlawful behavior and document evidence of altercations.
But is it allowed in Louisiana?
Louisiana state law prohibits interference with immigration officers. What this means
Many New Orleans residents have taken action to protect their fellow community members from being wrongfully targeted by alerting others when ICE agents are in an area, providing information about rights and recording agents’ actions and operations.
However, Louisiana state law prohibits the public from intervening in federal immigration enforcement activities.
Act 399 invokes the crime of obstruction of justice for acts committed with the knowledge that the act has, may or will affect an actual or potential criminal proceeding, civil immigration proceeding, or official act of an agent or employee of a governmental entity, according to the law’s text.
The acts in question are those intended to hinder, delay, prevent or otherwise interfere with or halt federal immigration enforcement efforts, according to the law.
What is the penalty for interfering with immigration officers in Louisiana?
Under Act 399, interference with a civil immigration proceeding results in a fine of no more than $5,000, or imprisoned with or without hard labor for no more than one year, or both.
Can you film ICE agents in Louisiana?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conduct an arrest as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s wide-ranging immigration crackdown in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. January 26, 2025 in a still image from video. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY
The First Amendment protects the right to record and video law enforcement officers, which includes ICE agents, but does not permit individuals to interfere with operations.
This means that members of the public can get as close as they wish, as long as they do not hinder agents, and agents cannot push members of the public to be out of camera range, according to litigation firm Faruki PLL.
It’s important to note that ICE agents cannot confiscate a member of the public’s phone or review its contents without a warrant, nor can agents compel individuals to unlock a phone or provide a password without a warrant, says Faruki PLL.
ACLU sues Louisiana over law prohibiting interference with ICE
The American Civil Liberties Union sued the state of Louisiana over the law criminalizing interference with immigration agents on the grounds that the law is so broadly written that it violates the First Amendment.
The ACLU argued that, because of the way the law is written, it could stifle legitimate advocacy work like “Know Your Rights” events.
However, the ACLU has since withdrawn the lawsuit after the Louisiana Attorney General’s office assured that the law would not be enforced in a way that infringes on free speech or other constitutionally protected activities.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Is it illegal to interfere with ICE agents in Louisiana? Laws here