My latest: How New Orleans' new Trump-appointed federal prosecutor, a Republican but one whose party affiliation was a mystery to many until his nomination, is shaking up the U.S. Attorney's Office here. @nolanews.bsky.social
Posts by James Finn
My latest: As she runs for the New Orleans City Council, State Rep. Delisha Boyd and a group supporting her campaign have paid more than $39,000 in campaign funds to a company she owns with her daughter, state records show. #lalege #lagov @nolanews.bsky.social
They helped rebuild New Orleans after Katrina, became active members of local churches, built lives and families. Now they're stuck in an ICE detention center as the Trump administration tries to deport them. Important story from @rjamesfinn.bsky.social:
www.nola.com/news/politic...
Two workers who came to New Orleans to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina nearly 20 years ago built families, careers and lives of faith in the city.
Now they’re being held in ICE detention, awaiting deportation to Guatemala. #lalege #lagov
www.nola.com/news/politic...
Criminal charges filed against Mayor LaToya Cantrell follow a years-long probe by the FBI into how she and people around her became involved in alleged corruption.
Public officials and political watchers lamented the harsh spotlight on New Orleans after Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted by a federal grand jury.
SCOOP: Louisiana officials are in talks with the Trump administration about opening a state-run immigration jail inside the State Penitentiary at Angola, people familiar with the plan tell me #lalege #lagov
www.nola.com/news/politic...
Scoop from @rjamesfinn.bsky.social: Louisiana is in talks to open an immigration jail inside of Angola, sources say. Plan is to use an unused wing of the massive prison complex, possibly camp J, to house immigrants. State closed camp J years ago w/ safety concerns
www.nola.com/news/politic...
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
"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 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
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
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
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
"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
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...
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
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