The New Orleans Police Department has publicly rejected allegations of wrongdoing following the detention of a police recruit by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which accuses the city of breaching federal immigration laws. Larry Temah, a 46-year-old from Cameroon and recruit in the NOPD police academy, was arrested last month by federal agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Temah had a final removal order issued by an immigration judge in December and remains in custody while awaiting deportation.
Temah was actively attending the police academy, still several months away from his graduation when taken into custody. His U.S. arrival dates back to 2015 on a valid visitor visa, followed by conditional residency granted after marrying a U.S. citizen in 2016. However, in 2022, DHS records indicate that his application for permanent residency was denied on the grounds of fraud.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized the agency's position, stating, "Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities - especially on our police forces." Contrastingly, Reese Harper, spokesperson for the NOPD, criticized the federal agency's portrayal of Temah's case as "misleading." Harper noted that the department had verified Temah's work eligibility through a DHS authentication system before his hiring and that ICE did not communicate any intent to detain Temah prior to the day of his arrest.
Harper further clarified, "New Orleans is not a sanctuary city," and refuted claims that the police department knowingly broke immigration laws. He also stated that Temah was never issued a firearm since he was still undergoing police academy training.
This dispute between city authorities and federal immigration officials emerges amid Operation Catahoula Crunch, a broad immigration enforcement initiative centered around New Orleans that commenced in December. According to reports, the operation has been temporarily paused due to the reallocation of federal agents to Minneapolis in early January.
New Orleans has faced criticism from previous federal administrations, with President Donald Trump's government accusing the city of impeding federal immigration enforcement efforts. In response, Louisiana legislation has aimed at compelling the city to cooperate with ICE. The NOPD, however, maintains that immigration enforcement falls outside its civil law enforcement jurisdiction.
Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, in a press briefing on January 28, confirmed that Temah's immigration status did not raise concerns during his hiring process. She noted his decade-long residence in the United States, possession of a valid driver’s license and Social Security card, and absence of any criminal record. "We did the due diligence," Kirkpatrick affirmed.
The DHS directed inquiries to its official press release and did not provide immediate comment on Temah’s prior eligibility in ICE’s verification system nor clarify details about the alleged fraud. Attempts to contact Temah for comment were unsuccessful. The NOPD declined to disclose information regarding Temah's legal representation, and the local Fraternal Order of Police did not respond to requests for comment.