Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) agents partnered with federal law enforcement offices to detain 20 individuals for immigration violations during a three-day patrol of recreational and commercial fisheries.
The maritime and land-based patrols took place 24 to 26 September in Plaquemines, Jefferson, and Terrebonne parishes, with agents focused on enforcing commercial and recreational fisheries. U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) participated in the patrols.
According to LDWF, 20 individuals were apprehended during the patrols for alleged federal immigration violations and are not facing deportation proceedings.
In addition to the immigration detentions, LDWF agents issued 12 citations for fishing violations and seized 22 fish.
“LDWF will continue working with local, state, and federal partners to protect Louisiana’s fisheries resources and promote compliance with conservation regulations,” LDWF said in a social media post.
The patrol follows an incident last year, when an immigrant commercial fisher drowned while attempting to evade a suspected ICE roundup in Louisiana. According to NOLA.com, deckhand Walter Francisco Cerrato Cabrera slipped into the water on 18 December 2025 to avoid Coast Guard officers who had arrived at the commercial fishing docks in Hopedale, Louisiana. Cabrera allegedly could not swim, and his body was found the following day.
That incident took place a month after the Coast Guard partnered with ICE to sweep the area, resulting in the detention of 10 oystermen.
