Louisiana Parole Board Grants 100% of Non-Citizen Release Requests for Immediate Deportation

A new policy in Louisiana has led to the parole of non-citizen prisoners directly into federal immigration custody for deportation, a process highlighted by the case of Hoang Huy Pham, who was paroled after serving 20 years for car theft. His daughter, Theresa, recounted her father's call in June, informing her of his impending parole, only to receive another call in September stating he was transferred to await deportation. This was the last time she heard from him, according to a report by ProPublica. Theresa described the experience as "false hope," noting, "You finally got out, but you’re going somewhere else where you’re not supposed to be."

Under Republican Governor Jeff Landry, Louisiana has made it significantly harder for most prisoners to receive early release, yet a special parole panel for non-citizens operates with a 100% grant rate for deportation cases. Unlike standard parole hearings, this panel does not assess remorse, disciplinary records, or public safety risks. The panel chair, Steve Prator, informed parolees, "Today you’ve been paroled to go straight into an ICE facility for deportation from the United States."

The expedited "alien removal process" was established by Louisiana lawmakers in June, following an executive order from Governor Landry aimed at "crack[ing] down on criminal illegal aliens." Bridget Geraghty, senior counsel with the MacArthur Justice Center, criticized the policy, stating, "They have the ability to release a lot of people to parole, and they’re choosing to only do it for this specific group because it’s politically popular." Similar initiatives have been observed in other Republican-led states like South Dakota and Oklahoma.

To be eligible for this special panel, prisoners must have a federal deportation notice and not be convicted of sex offenses or violent crimes carrying sentences over 10 years. Christopher Walters, deputy executive counsel with the Landry administration, indicated in May that approximately 390 prisoners might be eligible for parole and deportation. Once deported, these individuals are not placed under supervision, with the sole condition being not to return to the United States.

Pham, who his family says fled Vietnam as a child refugee, was transferred to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola to await deportation. His daughter expressed the profound impact of the sudden change, as her elderly grandfather had been looking forward to Pham helping with his care. The policy underscores a shift in Louisiana's approach to criminal justice for non-citizens, prioritizing deportation over traditional parole considerations.