NEW ORLEANS (AP) — As federal immigration enforcement operations escalate in New Orleans, Mayor-elect Helena Moreno is raising alarms about the negative impact on local communities. She stated that recent actions by masked federal agents have unnerved residents and prompted a public outcry in the predominantly Democratic city.
The situation came to a head when a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, Jacelynn Guzman, was chased by federal agents while walking home from the grocery store. Security footage revealed agents pursuing Guzman down the sidewalk, an incident that has fueled tensions and fears among local immigrants and their families.
Moreno, alongside city council members and civil rights advocates, voiced her discontent with the federal strategy, which reportedly aims to arrest 5,000 individuals in the region. She remarked, This operation is causing more harm than good, forcing businesses to close and leaving workers scared.\
In light of increasing reports of harassment and mistaken identities, Moreno is requesting regular updates from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track the enforcement practices and ensure they do not target innocent citizens. It's crucial that we have visibility into these actions to determine if they genuinely focus on dangerous offenders, she emphasized.
While DHS has maintained that the enforcement aims at apprehending dangerous criminals, Moreno countered that indiscriminate tactics appear to be at play. Guzman’s stepfather criticized the agents' approach and emphasized that racial profiling seems rampant, saying, If you look Hispanic, you get stopped. This sentiment echoes throughout the community, where many feel under siege due to the crackdown.
The backlash is poised to evolve as community leaders call for a more humane approach to immigration enforcement, advocating for protections for legal residents and reassurances against racially motivated actions.
