Louisiana judge blocks state plans to clear out New Orleans homeless encampments

A civil judge in Louisiana on Monday issued a temporary restraining order that paused the state police's plan to clear out homeless encampments in New Orleans prior to Thanksgiving.

Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry earlier this month pushed the city of New Orleans to clear out the homeless encampments ahead of the upcoming holiday, and threatened to intervene if they failed to do so. There were approximately 1,450 homeless people in New Orleans and neighboring Jefferson Parish in January, the Associated Press reported.

Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Ethel Julien granted the temporary restraining order against the state police, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Department of Transportation and Development. She is expected to further rule on whether to issue a preliminary injunction on the agencies on Dec. 3. 

“If a judge believes that people have a right to be on whatever public space they choose, maybe that judge should have them move into her chambers and courtroom,” Landry said in a statement after Julien's order.

Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Katharine Stegall said the agency and the state attorney general are reviewing the order,  and have halted their activities.

The city and the governor's office have clashed over how to handle the city's homeless population for months. 

City councilwoman Lesli Harris said directing more resources to housing the homeless population instead of doing a general sweep would be more beneficial. 

“Coordination between the government and service providers on the housing of people is imperative, and continuously moving people only makes it that much harder to house them,” Harris said.

The city has also committed to securing housing for the roughly 1,450 homeless people on its streets by the end of 2025.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.