NEW ORLEANS — The State's homeless encampment sweeps will stay on hold, at least for now.
On Tuesday, Civil Court Judge Ethel Julien ruled to extend the temporary restraining order granted last month, after the State announced more sweeps ahead of Bayou Classic.
“On an ongoing basis, without an end date, the State Police are restricted from sweeping unhoused people without basic constitutional protections,” Encampment Residents’ Attorney William Most said.
The ruling won’t end encampment clearings altogether but will change how they’re conducted.
New restrictions will require State Police to give residents 24 hours notice and prohibit destroying their property.
The ruling comes after months of legal back and forth.
In October, Louisiana State Police, Wildlife and Fisheries, and DOTD abruptly cleared several homeless encampments ahead of the Taylor Swift Concerts.
Days after the first sweeps, encampment residents filed charges, and attorneys and even city officials have been fighting it out ever since.
“I was out there when the first sweep happened, and I saw people's things being thrown away, and it was heartbreaking,” City Council Member Lesli Harris said.
Fast forward to Tuesday, Residents’ Attorney William Most argued clearing the homeless encampments with little notice could cause irreparable harm to residents.
“Tents, medicine, documents, these are things unhoused people can’t replace,” Most said.
State attorneys insisted their relocation efforts were necessary for public safety, but it didn’t sway Judge Julien, who said she was “unimpressed with the argument.”
When we asked the State’s attorneys for a comment, they directed us to Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office. Murrill said, “I am continuing to work with the State Police and Governor’s office to make sure everyone follows the law.”
Louisiana State Police say they’ll adhere to the guidelines for now, saying “Our legal team in conjunction with the Attorney General’s office is actively reviewing the restraining order and its procedures.”
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.