Louisiana Bill Criminalizes Illegal Immigration, Potentially Sparking Legal Clash with Biden Administration

Louisiana has passed a bill that would make it a crime for illegal immigrants to enter or re-enter the state, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown with the Biden administration, which has sued other states over similar measures.

Louisiana's Senate Bill 388, authored by Republican Sen. Valarie Hodges, was approved by the state senate on Tuesday after a series of amendments. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it into law.

The bill criminalizes the entry or re-entry of illegal immigrants into the state, with violators facing up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $4,000. It also authorizes the governor to create an interstate compact with Texas to address the influx of illegal immigration.

Hodges, who is a member of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus, expressed confidence that the governor would sign the bill and said she had been working closely with his office on the issue.

"We're standing up to protect Louisiana citizens and stand with Texas," she told Fox News Digital. "It's unfortunate that we have to do this, but if the federal government is not going to act, we must."

Hodges cited national security concerns related to the border and recent incidents of migrants entering military bases as reasons for the bill.

"We've got to close the border and we don't have any time to waste," she said.

The bill is likely to face a legal challenge from the Biden administration, which has already sued Texas, Oklahoma, and Iowa over similar immigration laws. In a statement, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton argued that such laws intrude on the federal government's exclusive authority to regulate immigration.

Republican officials have defended these laws, claiming that the Biden administration has failed to adequately address the border crisis and the impact it has on their states.

"I would say to the Biden administration, bring your fight to Oklahoma. We're happy to fight you," Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond told Fox News Digital.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill's office also indicated that it is prepared to defend the state if sued by the federal government.

The passage of the Louisiana bill reflects growing frustration among Republican states over the Biden administration's immigration policies. They argue that the surge in illegal immigration has created a security and economic burden on their states.

The potential legal clash between Louisiana and the Biden administration could have significant implications for immigration policy and the balance of power between the federal and state governments.