New Orleans Resists ICE Invasion Despite Surveillance and State Repression

"When concerned residents of the New Orleans metro area stepped out into the streets with their whistles and phone cameras over the weekend, ready to protest and document the Trump administration's unwelcome assault on immigrant communities, they faced both widespread digital surveillance by state and federal authorities and a vague state law that makes hindering federal immigration enforcement a crime punishable by up to one year of hard labor in a Louisiana prison."

"Championed by Republicans and signed by Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Act 399 went into effect August 1 and now looms over New Orleans as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol continue their latest invasion of a Democrat-led city as part of President Donald Trump's mass deportation campaign. The new law makes "any act intended to hinder, delay, prevent, or otherwise interfere with federal immigration enforcement" a crime."

"On December 3, the ACLU of Louisiana filed a lawsuit challenging Act 399 on behalf of a local group, which stopped conducting know-your-rights trainings after organizers feared they could be criminalized under the law's broad language. Louisiana's attorney general conceded in a court filing that Act 399 covers "only actual obstruction of justice - conduct, especially violent conduct," and not constitutionally protected speech."

Act 399, championed by Republicans and signed by Governor Jeff Landry, went into effect on August 1 and criminalizes any act intended to hinder, delay, prevent, or otherwise interfere with federal immigration enforcement. The statute carries penalties including up to one year of hard labor in a Louisiana prison. Local residents protesting ICE and Border Patrol operations faced widespread digital surveillance by state and federal authorities. The ACLU of Louisiana filed a lawsuit on December 3 after organizers stopped know-your-rights trainings out of fear of criminalization; the attorney general conceded the law covers only actual obstruction, not protected speech, and the lawsuit was dropped December 5.

Read at Truthout