Legislator Calls for Community Comments on Immigration

Press Release from Office of Rep. Hodges
    State Representative Valarie Hodges (R-Denham Springs), who sits on the House Committee on Criminal Justice, wants to hear directly from citizens concerning the current crisis of illegal border crossings into Texas.
    “Those are the voices being left out of the conversation,” Hodges said.  “I’m asking Louisiana citizens from across the state to give me their direct thoughts on illegal immigration and what Louisiana ought to be prepared to do.  I want to hear from them.”
    Hodges said the she is extremely concerned about the reports from Texas and its borders states, that federal officials are secretly transporting and housing detainees, captured trying to cross the border from Mexico. Some detainees have been identified as members of violent gangs, possibly infiltrating the United States disguised as refugees,  and some have been determined to carry dangerous, contagious disease.
    “At the very least, we need to know if the federal government is planning to transport detainees to Louisiana, and we need to plan ahead how to respond to that,” Hodges said, “I want to hear from citizens on this. What are their concerns?
    Hodges has set up a short survey on her Facebook page and is asking citizens to log on to answer a few questions and offer suggestions. Citizens can find the survey at facebook.com/RepresentativeValarieHodgesDistrict64.