OPINION:
The Biden administration’s lax approach to illegal immigration had enormous negative consequences for public safety. However, under President Trump, we have seen a sea change in effective immigration enforcement.
Upon starting his second term, Mr. Trump immediately began deporting violent criminals who entered the U.S. illegally. Now, with a new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in my congressional district, Louisiana is leading the way in securing the border and saying no to further illegal immigration.
The recent opening of the “Louisiana Lockup” at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in the town of Angola demonstrates the key role our state is playing in facilitating the president’s Make America Safe Again agenda.
The prison in Angola will soon have the capacity to house a significant number of illegal immigrants with criminal records while they await deportation. This facility will also send a message that illegal immigrants should self-deport rather than face detention.
Thanks to a new partnership with ICE and $45 billion in funding I supported in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Angola is already housing violent criminal illegal immigrants and will soon hold hundreds.
This investment demonstrated Congress’ shared commitment with Mr. Trump to secure our border and give ICE the resources it needs to deport dangerous criminals. Further funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will hire more Border Patrol agents and continue construction of the border wall.
We knew more funding would be needed to facilitate Mr. Trump’s security agenda. By passing his agenda through this year’s budget law, Congress delivered for the most essential function of government: public safety.
High-risk people who pose a threat to American families will now have a new home at the nation’s largest maximum security prison. These could include illegal immigrants arrested by ICE’s New Orleans division, people such as Omar Martinez-Garcia, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico with a homicide conviction, or Colon Pibaque from Ecuador, who has a conviction for cocaine smuggling.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry deserves credit for proactively working with the Trump administration to make this space available. Officials worked at lightning speed to open this wing of the prison and ensure illegals charged with violent crimes were off the streets.
With the opening of Louisiana Lockup, Louisiana is leading the way in restoring public safety and helping fix the border crisis.
We are a nation of laws, and enforcing them will increase public safety while providing justice for those who have suffered from the illegal immigration crisis.
• Rep. Julia Letlow represents Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.