Controversy Erupts as New Orleans Police Recruit Detained by ICE

Thu Feb 05 2026 04:41:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The New Orleans Police Department faces scrutiny after ICE detains a recruit amid allegations of immigration violations.

Larry Temah, a New Orleans police recruit, was detained by ICE, who claims the city violated federal immigration laws. While ICE alleges Temah is an illegal alien with a history of fraud on his residency application, the NOPD maintains Temah was eligible for employment. The clash highlights ongoing tensions between the city and federal immigration enforcement, amid a recent crackdown operation focusing on New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tension is rising as the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) denies wrongdoing after one of its recruits was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit from Cameroon, was arrested last month, accused of being in violation of federal immigration laws. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Temah was already under a final order of removal from December. He remains in custody awaiting deportation.

Having entered the U.S. in 2015 through a valid visitor visa, Temah was granted conditional residency after marrying a U.S. citizen in 2016. However, his permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to allegations of fraud.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces.” In rebuttal, NOPD spokesman Reese Harper asserted that they had confirmed Temah's eligibility for employment through a DHS verification system without being warned of ICE's intentions before his arrest.

Harper emphasized that New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, contending that any allegations of the NOPD knowingly violating immigration laws were false.

The incident is part of a larger immigration enforcement effort known as Operation Catahoula Crunch launched in December. This operation has reportedly come to a halt as federal agents have been redirected to Minneapolis in early January.

The continued strife highlights ongoing debates over immigration enforcement in New Orleans, particularly as the city seeks to maintain its policy of non-involvement in federal immigration matters, a stance strongly defended by Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.