NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is facing scrutiny after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained one of its recruits, Larry Temah, citing violations of federal immigration laws. Temah, a 46-year-old from Cameroon, was arrested while attending the police academy, just months away from graduation. He had entered the U.S. legally in 2015 but faced a deportation order after denying his application for permanent residency in 2022 due to alleged fraud.
ICE spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that 'criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities—especially on our police forces.' However, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper countered that the situation was misrepresented, asserting that the department verified Temah’s employment eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) system and was not informed of ICE's intention to detain him until the arrest.
Harper rejected claims that NOPD knowingly violated immigration laws, stating, 'New Orleans is not a sanctuary city.' He noted that Temah was not issued a firearm during his training, as he had not completed the academy. Following Temah's detainment, the confrontation between local authorities and federal immigration agents highlights the ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement policies in New Orleans.
This incident follows Operation Catahoula Crunch, a federal immigration operation launched in December targeting unlawful immigrants, which has since appeared to be on hold as federal agents shifted focus to Minneapolis. Previous accusations from the Trump administration alleged that New Orleans was obstructing federal immigration enforcement, despite local laws asserting that immigration enforcement falls outside NOPD's jurisdiction.
NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick defended the hiring process surrounding Temah, indicating that his legal status had not raised any concerns prior to his recruitment. She mentioned that Temah possessed a valid driver's license, Social Security card, and carried no criminal history in the U.S.
The ongoing discourse between local and federal authorities reflects the challenges surrounding immigration policies, and the implications of such detainments on community relations remain significant.
ICE spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that 'criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities—especially on our police forces.' However, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper countered that the situation was misrepresented, asserting that the department verified Temah’s employment eligibility through the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) system and was not informed of ICE's intention to detain him until the arrest.
Harper rejected claims that NOPD knowingly violated immigration laws, stating, 'New Orleans is not a sanctuary city.' He noted that Temah was not issued a firearm during his training, as he had not completed the academy. Following Temah's detainment, the confrontation between local authorities and federal immigration agents highlights the ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement policies in New Orleans.
This incident follows Operation Catahoula Crunch, a federal immigration operation launched in December targeting unlawful immigrants, which has since appeared to be on hold as federal agents shifted focus to Minneapolis. Previous accusations from the Trump administration alleged that New Orleans was obstructing federal immigration enforcement, despite local laws asserting that immigration enforcement falls outside NOPD's jurisdiction.
NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick defended the hiring process surrounding Temah, indicating that his legal status had not raised any concerns prior to his recruitment. She mentioned that Temah possessed a valid driver's license, Social Security card, and carried no criminal history in the U.S.
The ongoing discourse between local and federal authorities reflects the challenges surrounding immigration policies, and the implications of such detainments on community relations remain significant.
