Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been targeting international students connected to last year’s college protests for Palestine, arresting them, rescinding their visas, and initiating deportation proceedings. The Trump administration is fighting to keep these students detained in Louisiana, a state known for its high incarceration rate. Louisiana’s private prisons have benefited from lucrative contracts with ICE, leading to a significant increase in immigration detention in the state.
The federal courts in Louisiana are stacked against immigrants, making it difficult for them to challenge their detention. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, known for its far-right leanings, poses a significant challenge for immigrants seeking relief. The Biden administration has continued to use Louisiana for immigration detention, despite promises to reduce the reliance on private prisons.
Experts and advocates are raising concerns about human rights abuses in Louisiana’s detention facilities, including lack of language access and isolation from support networks. The administration’s tactics, similar under both Republican and Democratic administrations, aim to deter immigrants from coming to the U.S. by deploying punitive measures.
Despite legal challenges, recent rulings have favored immigrants like Mahmoud Khalil, signaling a potential shift in how these cases are handled. However, concerns remain about the broader impact of immigration policies in Louisiana and the administration’s continued use of the state for detention purposes.
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