Gov. Jeff Landry paid an unannounced go to to the French Quarter on New Yr’s Day, to be briefed about safety for the upcoming Sugar Bowl and to pay his respects to victims on the one-year anniversary of the truck assault that killed 14 folks.
The governor additionally spoke a bit of about immigration enforcement. When requested by The Lens, Landry stated that he wasn’t but positive about how ICE enforcement would return to New Orleans. “I’m positive we’ll know a bit of bit extra subsequent week,” he stated, noting that, due to final yr’s terrorist assault, Carnival is ranked as a “SEAR1 score,” the very best degree of federal safety. That meant extra legislation enforcement from all ranges. “We’re gonna be bringing extra federal assets in. So I’m positive that ICE will probably be a element of that with the DHS (Division of Homeland Safety) ATF and DEA.”
On the similar time, Landry stated, he understands that New Orleans companies are short-handed as a result of individuals who might be focused by ICE are staying dwelling.
“There must be a stability,” he stated. “I do know one factor. We’re actually pushing on ICE, to guarantee that we’re focusing on these with legal information and people with excellent warrants.”
It was time for the U.S. Congress to raised delineate its objectives for immigration enforcement, he stated.
“Now that the border is sealed and now that we’ve accomplished a great job of taking a great chunk of these legal illegals out, Congress must do one thing. Congress wants to repair it.”
Strolling Bourbon, praying by the unique memorial crosses on the Presbytère
Accompanied by his spouse Sharon Landry, the governor entered on the high of Bourbon Avenue, at Canal Avenue, the place the “Second Line within the Sky” memorial begins, with pictures of the tragedy’s victims printed on prayer flags that wave overhead.
He was dressed casually – in blue denims, a baseball cap and a Louisiana State Police quarter-zip sweater – in a approach that blended into the New Yr’s Day Bourbon Avenue crowd, which was largely soccer followers from Ole Miss and College of Georgia.
The Landrys stood out as they walked principally as a result of they had been flanked by an entourage of a few dozen Louisiana State Police and Louisiana Nationwide Guard. “Should be any individual well-known,” a girl stated as he handed.
About midway into the Quarter, Landry stopped at a mechanical metal avenue barrier to speak quietly about safety plans with New Orleans Police Division eighth District Captain Sammy Palumbo, who oversaw a New Yr’s Eve celebration with out incident on Wednesday, with armored automobiles blocking all side-street entrances to Bourbon and with NOPD officers supplemented by state and federal officers all alongside the well-known hall.
When completed with Palumbo’s briefing, the governor continued down Bourbon at a relaxed tempo, posing for images with Nationwide Guard troops, Louisiana State Law enforcement officials, just a few enterprise house owners, and a few constituents who approached him.
The group’s ultimate vacation spot was the Presbytère on Jackson Sq., the place final yr’s unique memorials – 14 handmade wood crosses and 14 images – are displayed on the entrance of the constructing, behind the museum’s iron gate.
“These are the unique crosses?” requested Landry, who stated that he felt like a everlasting memorial ought to be erected in reminiscence of the victims.
Then the couple walked quietly to the world by the crosses to pay their respects. The governor took off his cap. He and his spouse bowed their heads. He made the signal of the cross.
“At the moment and day by day, we are going to always remember the 14 harmless lives misplaced on this fateful day one yr in the past,” he wrote afterward on Instagram.
The 14 victims who died from their accidents that day are: Kareem Badawi; Martin “Tiger” Bech; Drew Dauphin; Nikyra Dedeaux; William DiMaio; Hubert Gauthreaux; Reggie Hunter; Terrence Kennedy; Nicole Perez; Edward Pettifer; LaTasha Polk; Brandon Taylor; Matthew Tenedorio and Elliot Wilkinson.
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