Gov. Jeff Landry, center, visits the Texas/Mexico border over the summer. Photo: Courtesy of Gov. Jeff Landry's Office
Gov. Jeff Landry was one of 26 Republican governors to promise he'd use "state law enforcement or the National Guard" to help with President-elect Trump's mass deportation plan.
Why it matters: The federal government doesn't have enough resources to carry out Trump's goal of deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants from the U.S. without cooperation from state and local police.
And with 26 governors vowing to help, that gives Trump the promised cooperation of a majority of U.S. states — including those with some of the largest populations of undocumented people.
Reality check: These mass deportations will likely face several procedural roadblocks, and the estimated $150 billion to $350 billion price tag to execute them is steep.
Yes, but: A letter from the Republican Governors Association, co-signed by Landry, said "we stand ready to utilize every tool at our disposal" and "we will do everything in our power to assist in removing them from our communities."
The joint statement clarifies the "them" as "illegal immigrants who pose a threat to our communities and national security" and "dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists."
Zoom in: It would not be the first time Landry has used Louisiana's National Guardsmen to support immigration policy. The governor previously sent soldiers to the Texas border.
KLFY reports the latest group of 13 soldiers returned home this week after a four-month deployment.
Between the lines: Louisiana lawmakers earlier this year passed a ban on local governments and agencies adopting "sanctuary policies."
But New Orleans law enforcement agencies are guided by their own federal agreements that prevent some investigation into a person's immigration status. Go deeper.
