The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), a state agency typically tasked with overseeing wildlife reserves and enforcing local hunting regulations, has collaborated with U.S. immigration authorities to transfer at least six individuals into federal custody this year, as revealed by documents obtained by WIRED through a public records request.

Key Developments: Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with ICE

In May, LDWF executed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the agency’s 287(g) program. This agreement confers upon LDWF the authority to detain individuals suspected of immigration violations and transfer them to ICE custody. Since the MOA’s implementation, LDWF personnel have interacted with at least six men, none of whom were initially charged with criminal offenses. Notably, two of these individuals were known to ICE to have legal U.S. residency at the time of detention.

287(g) Program Expansion and State Wildlife Agency Involvement

The 287(g) program, authorized by Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, enables state and local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement functions (e.g., investigation, apprehension, detention). As of December 3, 1,205 agencies nationwide have partnered with ICE through this program, representing a 693% increase in enrollments since the end of 2024 (with an additional 8 agencies pending approval).

Among these, LDWF is one of three state wildlife agencies to sign 287(g) agreements with ICE, alongside the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. All three agreements were signed in 2025.

Joint Patrols Involving CBP and USCG

Documents indicate LDWF conducted at least one joint patrol in a Louisiana wildlife management area, involving LDWF agents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) personnel. The MOA between LDWF and ICE does not explicitly reference CBP collaboration, yet the patrol suggests such partnerships may have been facilitated through ICE’s framework.

Case Studies: Detentions and Civil Citations

August 11 Joint Patrol (Lake Borgne):

An "After Action Report" from LDWF details a joint operation with five USCG officers and unspecified CBP agents. The patrol targeted alleged violations of state laws governing seed oyster harvesting. Despite no crimes or civil violations being witnessed, federal partners detained three individuals based on immigration-related concerns. All were transported to detention centers, with their immigration statuses (including two with legal residency who overstayed and one with an unspecified criminal history) noted.

Post-patrol communications indicate CBP sought "less formal" future patrols, leveraging LDWF’s local knowledge to optimize routes.

October 23 Incident (Maurepas Swamp):

Three individuals were detained for alleged illegal target shooting and unauthorized access to a wildlife management area without firearm permits. All received civil citations but no criminal charges. Immigration authorities (Homeland Security Investigations, HSI) were contacted, and ICE took custody of all three, who remain unaccounted for via ICE’s detainee locator.

October 6 Littering Incident:

A man was cited for littering roofing materials, nails, and debris. Despite his "unverified citizenship," LDWF forwarded the case to ICE, with no follow-up details provided on his current status.

Limited Agency Responses

CBP failed to respond to WIRED’s inquiries. LDWF partially addressed specific incidents but declined full comment. ICE spokesperson Angelina Vicknair, citing insufficient information, declined to verify the status of seven individuals queried, deeming the request "excessively large" and requiring narrowing.

Conclusion

The LDWF’s 287(g) partnerships highlight an expanded scope of immigration enforcement in wildlife management, with civil violations often serving as triggers for detention. The lack of transparency around detainee outcomes underscores potential gaps in accountability for non-criminal immigration detentions.