Sanctuary cities that illegally harbor and house illegal immigrants against the will of federal law could soon be entirely outlawed across the state of Louisiana if pair of bills pass through the full state House and state Senate after flying through the House Judiciary Committee today.

Attorney General Jeff Landry spoke before the Judiciary Committee on behalf of two pieces of legislation, one that would make sanctuary cities illegal across the state, which would mainly impact Orleans Parish and Lafayette Parish, as they are both sanctuary cities.

HB 151 by Rep. Valerie Hodges would prohibit the creation of sanctuary cities. That legislation flew of committee and will go before a full House vote now.

Representatives with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) objected to the legislation, saying that local government essentially should not have to enforce federal law.

Landrieu’s representatives said the city is complying with what the Civil Rights division of the Department of Justice currently allows, though supporters of the bill said the division is highly partisan with a pro-sanctuary cities stance.

Also, Rep. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat, said she wanted Landrieu and other city officials to be held accountable for turning the city into a sanctuary city via law enforcement policies.

Additionally, the Catholic Bishops Association and Jesuit Social Research Institute arged against outlawing sanctuary cities, claiming that the church teaches to “love our neighbor” and said the economy demanded that there be a large number of illegal immigrant in New Orleans.

Meanwhile, a separate bill HB 453 by Rep. Jay Morris would allows for citizens to file a writ of mandamus to force sanctuary cities to comply with the federal government, and if one were filed the sanctuary city can’t collect any money from the state until it complies with the mandamus writ.

That legislation was also moved out of the Judiciary committee without any objection. It will now move to the full House to be voted on.

Landrieu has unilaterally turned the city into a sanctuary city, as reported by the Hayride HERE.