Backlash Erupts in New Orleans Over Federal Immigration Crackdown

Sat Dec 06 2025 04:18:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

New Orleans' mayor-elect condemns the federal immigration operation as it raises fears and disrupts daily life in the community, particularly among Hispanic residents.

The federal immigration crackdown in New Orleans has sparked significant concern among local officials, residents, and activists. Mayor-elect Helena Moreno highlights the trauma inflicted on citizens, like Jacelynn Guzman, who faced aggressive agent encounters. While federal authorities assert the operation targets criminals, community leaders question its methods and implications for innocent residents. Calls for transparency in federal actions grow amid fears of racial profiling and community safety.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans’ mayor-elect expressed alarm on Friday at a federal immigration crackdown initiated this week, indicating that it is already causing distress in the community. Videos of masked agents confronting residents have incited public outrage in this predominantly Democratic city.

City officials pointed to the disturbing encounter of Jacelynn Guzman, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, who recorded her alarming experience when two agents pursued her on foot after mistaking her for someone else. Guzman, who was returning home from grocery shopping, was understandably terrified.

As she sprinted toward her house, Guzman yelled at the agents to stop, declaring, We’re legal, we are from here, born and raised. Don’t chase me; that is disgusting.” The incident has raised alarms among the local community that now feels unsafe in their own neighborhoods.

The immigration operation in Southeast Louisiana, led by Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, reportedly intends to arrest 5,000 individuals. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has celebrated numerous arrests, many Hispanic residents voice fears of victimization regardless of their legal status.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, alongside other community leaders and Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, has voiced strong concerns about the immigration crackdown’s tactics, which have prompted local businesses to close and workers to stay home out of fear of detention.

Moreno questioned the federal rationale behind these actions, suggesting that if the operation indeed targeted serious offenders, the aggressive methods employed do not reflect that goal. She has called for regular updates from federal agencies regarding the operation, including information about arrests and whether those detained have violent criminal backgrounds.

Amid this fraught atmosphere, Guzman’s stepfather, Juan Anglin, criticized the operation, feeling that the agents' approach is misdirected and that individuals are being profiled based on appearances. He expressed concerns, stating “Just because you look brown, you look Hispanic, you’re going to get stopped.” The emotional toll on the community is palpable as they navigate these stressful and frightening circumstances.

The DHS has maintained that agents were attempting to locate a “criminal illegal alien” but has been met with skepticism from residents, who feel the impact on innocent people like Guzman cannot be understated. The lack of transparency surrounding the operation has left the community in a state of fear, sparking calls for further accountability from federal authorities.