Louisiana’s GOP leaders are at odds over federal immigration enforcement efforts in the Bayou State, as Border Patrol agents seek to arrest 5,000 people.
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser (R ) said local residents, who are living legally in the state, have raised concerns.
“I think the president needs to take a step back and look at what’s going on and try to relieve some of the fear in these communities for the people that are here legally,” he said in an interview, according to local outlet 4WWL.
The Trump administration has launched several targeted immigration enforcement operations in various states in recent weeks with the goal of removing immigrants in the country illegally.
In addition to Louisiana, North Carolina, Illinois, California, New York and Florida have been subject to heightened detainment and removal efforts.
Agents have reportedly taken people at places of worship, schools and businesses.
“It’s home builders, it’s restaurants, it’s hotels — people aren’t showing up for work,” Nungesser, who’s in charge of Louisiana’s tourism efforts, said in an interview.
““How long is it going to continue?” he said. “Did they say we’re gonna be here for two weeks, for two months, or we’re gonna be here until 12 million people are detained? What is that going to cost the economy?”
However, Gov. Jeff Landry’s (R-La.) office said undocumented immigrants should be swiftly removed.
“It is disappointing that he would seek to give individuals who enter our country illegally and then commit crimes greater rights than American citizens,” said Landry’s spokesperson Kate Kelly, when asked about the lieutenant governor’s comments, according to The New Orleans Advocate.
“When an American citizen commits a crime, they are held accountable under the law and face jail time — the same standard should apply to everyone.”