Senior officials in New Orleans have launched a fierce critique of a sweeping federal immigration operation this week, citing public alarm and specific incidents including the pursuit of a young American citizen by masked agents.
Mayor-Elect Warns of Widespread Harm
On Friday, Mayor-elect Helena Moreno voiced "deep concern over recent actions" by federal agents, stating the crackdown is already inflicting damage. She argued that the operation, which has sent hundreds of agents into Southeast Louisiana, is forcing local businesses to close and workers to remain at home due to fear of mass arrests.
The operation, led by Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, aims to arrest 5,000 people. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has promoted dozens of arrests, limited details have been released. Moreno has demanded regular public briefings with comprehensive data on stops, detentions, and the criminal histories of those detained.
"Without this full visibility into these enforcement actions, it is impossible to determine whether this particular operation is actually targeting the most dangerous offenders," Moreno stated, contradicting federal claims that the focus is solely on dangerous criminals who entered illegally.
"I Thought She Was Going to Be Kidnapped"
The public backlash intensified following an incident involving 23-year-old Jacelynn Guzman, a US citizen. Security footage obtained by The Associated Press shows Guzman walking home from a grocery store in Marrero on Wednesday when a truck pulled up and two masked federal agents approached her.
As a second vehicle arrived, Guzman ran. The agents pursued her down the sidewalk until she reached her family's home. "We’re legal, we are from here, born and raised," Guzman shouted back. "Don’t chase me, that is disgusting."
Her stepfather, Juan Anglin, heard her screams and confronted the agents. He told the AP that Guzman fled because she was a young woman surrounded by aggressive masked men. "I thought she was going to be kidnapped, honestly," Anglin said. "I thought somebody was going to hurt her."
Conflicting Accounts and Community Fear
In a statement, DHS said Border Patrol agents were searching for a "criminal illegal alien" with a felony theft record. They claimed they "encountered a female matching the description," identified themselves, and left upon realising Guzman was not their target.
Anglin firmly disputes this account, asserting his stepdaughter was stopped purely based on her appearance. "Just because you look brown, you look Hispanic, you're going to get stopped," he said. "Because now it doesn’t matter you have papers, you speak English or you are a citizen, it’s not enough."
Hispanic community leaders and civil rights advocates have joined city council members and Democratic Congressman Troy Carter in expressing alarm. Many residents report feeling at risk of detention or abuse by agents, regardless of their legal status in the United States.
