James Finn

New Orleans woman's ICE arrest shows need for immigration overhaul, Steve Scalise says Scalise helped secure the release of Donna Kashanian after reviewing his case file. Here's what he thinks needs to happen in Congress.

NEW from me: The arrest of an Iranian woman in New Orleans almost 50 years shows the need for legislation streamlining how the country treats people who lack legal residency but otherwise follow the law, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said in an interview this week. #lalege #lagov

Louisiana sends first responders to Texas to help recovery from Hill Country floods The teams have experience in "swift water" rescues.

The teams have experience in "swift water" rescues.

Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Who Threatened Police Joins Justice Dept.

"a man who had urged violence against police officers was now responsible for the department’s official effort to exact revenge against those who had tried to hold the rioters accountable" www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/u...

Trump taps this prominent attorney to be the New Orleans region's top federal prosecutor President Trump has tapped a veteran Jefferson Parish attorney as the next federal prosecutor over the New Orleans region. See who.

Trump nominates Jefferson Parish lawyer David Courcelle to be New Orleans' next U.S. Attorney, tapping a well-connected member of New Orleans' trial bar to lead the DOJ's largest Louisiana outpost.

My story:

BREAKING: on Instagram, State Sen. Royce Duplessis says he’s running for mayor of New Orleans — reversing his decision in January not to run #lalege #lagov

YouTube video by CNN Erin Burnett asks Zohran Mamdani what it means to be a Democratic Socialist. Hear his response

this is a remarkable interview

Mamdani being on message, of course, but also Erin Burnett's combination of detailed preparedness, good faith journalistic antagonism, and real interest in having him expand on his ideas

Iranian immigrant who has lived in New Orleans nearly 50 years arrested outside Lakeview home Federal agents arrested an Iranian woman who has lived in the United States for more than four decades outside her Lakeview home Sunday.

Story from yesterday: An Iranian woman who has lived in the United States for 47 years and has no criminal record was detained by federal agents Sunday morning as she gardened outside her New Orleans home.

Dueling statements issued by the far-right Louisiana Freedom Caucus, which urges people to wield “justifiable use of force” during protests, and Louisiana Democrats, who accuse the Freedom Caucus of fomenting “violence against peaceful protestors” #lalege #lagov

The High-Flying Escalation of CBP's Predator Drone Flights Over LA Custom and Border Protection flying powerful Predator B drones over Los Angeles further breaks the seal on federal involvement in civilian matters typically handled by state or local authorities.

NEW: The CBP confirmed to @404media.co that it has been flying Predator drones over LA amid the protests. These Predator B drones are military-caliber UAVs used for aerial reconnaissance that can be armed.

It further breaks the seal on federal involvement in civilian matters. More here:

The FBI's New Orleans field office posted this message ahead of anti-Trump protests planned nationwide tomorrow #lalege #lagov

Customs and Border Protection taking out recruitment ads on Twitter

The White House Marching Orders That Sparked the L.A. Migrant Crackdown After deportations fell short of President Trump’s campaign promises, federal agents summoned to a meeting in Washington were told to “just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.”

"Federal agents make warrantless arrests. Masked agents take people into custody without identifying themselves. And across the U.S., people are disappearing into the federal detention system without notice to families or lawyers, according to attorneys, witnesses and officials." Via @wsj.com

How an under-the-radar Democrat brings millions home to New Orleans from GOP-led Legislature At the state Capitol in Baton Rouge, he's New Orleans' most powerful advocate. Most New Orleanians don't know him.

Jimmy Harris delivers better than anyone in Lege, but does it quietly.

When I first started, we were both aides to powerful pols who were sometimes at odds. But Jimmy was always awesome to work with. Unpretentious and smart. Great @rjamesfinn.bsky.social piece.
www.nola.com/news/politic...

An updated table of Louisiana law enforcement agencies with active and pending 287(g) agreements, which have expanded under Trump and allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws. @nolanews.bsky.social

We asked Mayor Cantrell’s office last night where she was since nobody has seen her for days. Predictably they didn’t respond.

As Trump pursues a sweeping expansion of ICE's 287(g) program, here's which Louisiana agencies are entering partnerships with ICE under that program, or considering doing so. #lalege #lagov
www.nola.com/news/crime_p...

Plainclothes ICE agents make arrests inside Louisiana courthouse, escalating Trump's crackdown Plain-clothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered a Jefferson Parish municipal court building in Metairie Thursday and detained three people, according to immigrant advocates and a Jeff...

NEW: Plainclothes ICE agents entered a Jefferson Parish municipal court building in Metairie on Thursday and detained three people, according to immigrant advocates and a Jefferson Parish official. The arrests within a courthouse mark an escalation of Trump's immigration agenda. #lalege #lagov

Family of 2-year-old Louisiana girl deported to Honduras drops case against Trump administration The attorney for the girl's father said the decision was necessary to assess next steps.

News: The father of a two-year-old Louisiana-born girl deported to Honduras has dismissed a legal challenge against the Trump administration, citing "the traumatizing experiences the families have been through" since the girl was deported with her mother and older sister last month. #lalege #lagov

He arrived to a citizenship appointment in New Orleans. Under Trump, ICE arrested him. An undocumented Honduran man married to a U.S. citizen arrived at a customs appointment in New Orleans this month, hoping to secure citizenship himself. Instead, ICE arrested him.

Story:

ICYMI: Criminal prosecutions of immigration-related felonies have surged in Louisiana since Trump took office, per a
@nolanews.bsky.social review of federal court records and Justice Department data. #lalege #lagov

A 2-year-old U.S. citizen from Louisiana was deported to Honduras, federal judge says Trump administration officials deported a 2-year-old U.S. citizen from New Orleans to Honduras this week with "no meaningful process," a judge in Louisiana wrote in a court order late Friday.

NEW: A 2-year-old Louisiana girl who is a U.S. citizen was deported by Trump administration officials Friday with "no meaningful process," a federal judge says.

#lalege #lagov

Here's what 2 former New Orleans U.S. Attorneys think of Trump's Justice Department overhaul At a Loyola University panel, two former New Orleans U.S. Attorneys weighed in on Trump's sweeping changes to the U.S. Justice Department.

Story: Trump's Justice Department overhaul has eroded the agency's legacy of independence and brought it nearer to serving as a cudgel against the president's enemies, two former top federal prosecutors for the New Orleans region say #lalege #lagov

Adams Is Letting ICE Into Rikers. The City Council Is Suing to Stop Him. A lawsuit argues that an executive order that City Hall issued last week is “part of a corrupt quid pro quo bargain” between Mayor Eric Adams of New York and President Trump.

The New York City Council sued Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday in an attempt to block an executive order that allows federal immigration agents into the Rikers Island jail complex, calling it “part of a corrupt quid pro quo bargain” between the mayor and President Trump.

On newly quiet stretch of US-Mexico border, Louisiana soldiers sit around, watch and wait EAGLE PASS, Texas — The soldiers from Louisiana stand around, sit in folding chairs and recline on the beds of Humvees, eyeing the thicket of razor wire that blankets the

Link:

They wouldn't have had to leave, they said, if not for threats by the detained relative. Raging violent crime that had previously made life difficult in El Salvador was down under Bukele.

"For us, this was the best decision we could make," Alicia said. #lalege #lagov

This seemed to illustrate Bukele's appeal: Though they viewed his policies as the reason they had to leave, the couple still described themselves as strong supporters of the president. They credited him for the country's drop in violent crime. #lalege #lagov

Fearful he or associates would seek vengeance, Alicia described taking her three young children on a harrowing journey by bus, van and on foot through Guatemala and Mexico. They scheduled an appointment at the U.S.-Mexico border through the now-defunct CBP One app. #lalege #lagov

Bukele’s policies, Alicia explained, sometimes penalize those who look the other way from gang activity. This made the arrested family member suspect the couple of turning him in. #lalege #lagov

The couple, who gave only their first names because they feared retaliation, fled El Salvador after a relative affiliated with a criminal group was arrested amid Bukele's sweeping anti-gang crackdowns. #lalege #lagov

With Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in the news, I'm reminded of a couple from El Salvador I interviewed in Eagle Pass, TX a year ago — Alicia and Moises. 📷: Javi Gallegos for @nolanews.bsky.social/@theadvocatebr.bsky.social
#lalege #lagov