The New Orleans Police Department has firmly rejected allegations of misconduct following the detention of one of its police academy recruits by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Federal authorities have accused the city of violating immigration laws, creating a significant clash between local and federal agencies.
Recruit's Background and Arrest Details
Federal agents last month arrested Larry Temah, a 46-year-old Cameroonian national who was enrolled in the New Orleans Police Department's training academy. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Temah had received a final order of removal signed by an immigration judge in December and currently remains in custody awaiting deportation proceedings.
Temah had entered the United States in 2015 on a valid visitor visa and obtained conditional residency in 2016 following his marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, his application for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to allegations of fraud, according to official DHS statements.
Conflicting Statements from Authorities
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated unequivocally that "criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces," emphasising the federal position on immigration enforcement.
In sharp contrast, New Orleans Police Department spokesperson Reese Harper described the DHS statements as "misleading" and defended the department's hiring procedures. Harper explained that the NOPD had verified Temah's employment eligibility through the DHS verification system and received no notification about any ICE detention request until the actual day of his arrest.
"New Orleans is not a sanctuary city," Harper asserted. "Any claim that NOPD knowingly violated the law is false." He further clarified that Temah had not been issued a firearm as he was still completing his police academy training at the time of his detention.
Broader Immigration Enforcement Context
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Operation Catahoula Crunch, a comprehensive immigration crackdown focused on New Orleans that launched in December. The operation appears to have been temporarily paused after federal agents were redirected to Minneapolis in early January.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused New Orleans of undermining federal immigration enforcement efforts, while Louisiana has passed legislation attempting to compel the city to collaborate more closely with ICE. The New Orleans Police Department maintains that immigration enforcement constitutes a civil matter outside its jurisdictional authority.
Police Department's Due Diligence Claims
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick addressed reporters last week, stating that no issues with Temah's legal status had emerged during the comprehensive hiring process. She noted that Temah had resided in the United States for at least ten years, possessed a valid driver's license and Social Security card, and maintained a clean criminal record.
"We did the due diligence," Kirkpatrick emphasised during a January 28 press conference, defending the department's recruitment protocols.
The Department of Homeland Security directed inquiries to its official press release and did not immediately respond to questions about why Temah had been eligible for employment through ICE's verification system or the specific nature of the alleged fraud. Temah could not be reached for comment, and the New Orleans Police Department declined to provide information about his legal representation when asked.
The Fraternal Order of Police in New Orleans did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this developing situation that highlights the ongoing tensions between local law enforcement practices and federal immigration policies.
