Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing federal immigration officials of exposing hundreds to a rare, drug-resistant form of tuberculosis after transferring an infected migrant between ICE facilities without proper medical clearance.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has filed a lawsuit against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and several security agencies, accusing them of endangering public health by transferring a drug-resistant tuberculosis-infected illegal immigrant across multiple detention centers in the state. Governor Jeff Landry joined Murrill in condemning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly exposing over 200 detainees and staff to the infected individual, a Chinese national, without proper medical precautions.
The lawsuit claims that Mayorkas, through his position as Homeland Security Secretary, allowed the infected migrant to be transferred between ICE facilities, potentially spreading a rare and dangerous form of tuberculosis known for its high mortality rate. Murrill and Landry argue that ICE's handling of the situation violated Louisiana’s public health protections by failing to have the infected migrant cleared by the state’s health department before her transfer and potential release.
According to the lawsuit, the Chinese national entered the U.S. illegally through California in July and was subsequently transferred to detention centers in Louisiana. The New York Post reports that the lawsuit seeks to prevent ICE from releasing other detainees who may have been exposed to the disease without first being medically cleared. ICE, however, has reportedly claimed its hands are tied once its immigration detention authority expires, prompting concerns that these potentially exposed individuals could be released into Louisiana’s public spaces, including bus stations and airports.
“This is utterly wrong,” Murrill stated, emphasizing that the Surgeon General’s standing orders require detainees in these situations to be medically cleared before release. She underscored that the facilities where the infected migrant was held are not owned by ICE, reinforcing the state’s right to exercise its sovereign powers to protect public health.
Murrill’s lawsuit highlights growing tension between state and federal officials over immigration policy, particularly regarding public safety and health concerns. While Murrill assured the public that there is no immediate danger, she warned that the exposure risk from this incident remains significant. The case is ongoing in federal court.
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