NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) is facing backlash after the detention of Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit from Cameroon, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal authorities arrested Temah last month, claiming he violated immigration laws despite being in training at the police academy.
Temah, who entered the U.S. in 2015 on a visitor visa and subsequently gained conditional residency, had his application for permanent residency denied in 2022 due to alleged fraud. As of now, he remains in custody and is awaiting deportation.
“Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated. However, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper contested the claims, insisting the department confirmed Temah's eligibility for employment using DHS verification, and stated they were unaware of ICE's intent to detain him until the day of his arrest.
Harper further emphasized, “New Orleans is not a sanctuary city,” countering accusations that the NOPD knowingly infringed upon immigration laws. He insisted there was no firearm provided to Temah as he was still completing his training.
The altercation comes on the heels of a significant federal operation aimed at immigration enforcement, dubbed Operation Catahoula Crunch. Chief Anne Kirkpatrick clarified that no legal issues involving Temah's status arose during the hiring process, confirming he held a valid driver’s license, Social Security card, and displayed no criminal history.
Despite the controversy, the DHS has offered no clarifications on why Temah was eligible for employment in the first place, raising further questions about the enforcement of immigration policies within local law enforcement. The NOPD has reiterated that immigration enforcement falls outside its jurisdiction and emphasized their commitment to appropriate employment procedures.
