Shreveport Checkpoint Controversy: Were ICE Agents Involved?

Shreveport residents encountered a surprise midday traffic checkpoint on Tuesday, June 10th, in the 100 block of Southfield Road. Shreveport Police announced they would conduct a seatbelt checkpoint in the city's eastern region from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This initiative is funded by a Louisiana Highway Safety Commission grant. However, what caught many off guard was the unannounced presence of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Numerous locals quickly took to social media, claiming ICE agents were actively involved in traffic stops, a detail not mentioned in the Shreveport Police Department's official press release.

The scene quickly intensified as pictures of unmarked grey SUVs began flooding social media platforms across Shreveport. These images, shared rapidly by residents caught in the checkpoint, sparked immediate and widespread online discussion. The most pressing question on everyone's mind, echoing repeatedly through comments and posts, was starkly clear: Was this truly just a routine seatbelt checkpoint, or had it become something entirely different – an unannounced ICE checkpoint – unfolding right in the middle of Shreveport?

Shreveport Police Department's Public Safety Officer Chris Bordelon said, "Today, the Shreveport Police Department conducted a seatbelt safety checkpoint in the 100 block of Southfield Road. During the operation, multiple vehicles were screened, resulting in the issuance of approximately 100 citations for various violations." When asked about the presence of ICE, Bordelon said, "While ICE personnel were present during a portion of the checkpoint, their involvement was strictly limited to cases where individuals were found to be in violation of state law. At no point were stops conducted based on race, gender, or national origin. The Shreveport Police Department remains committed to fair and impartial enforcement of the law, with a primary focus on ensuring public safety."

Did you find yourself in the middle of the seatbelt checkpoint? What was your experience like?