Multiple individuals detained in New Orleans during ICE 'operation': 'It's racial profiling'

Authorities detained dozens across New Orleans as the federal governments latest immigration enforcement initiative continued in the city, now led by Democrats. Local immigrant communities report widespread fear, with many residents avoiding public spaces as arrests occur at locations including hardware store parking lots, bus stops, shopping centers, and neighborhoods.

Rachel Taber, an organizer with Unin Migrante, shared footage showing masked federal agents questioning and handcuffing a man in the parking lot of a Lowes store on Elysian Fields. When asked about his birthplace, the man responded that he was a U.S. citizen, yet the agents continued their questioning and eventually detained him. Taber noted that, so far, at least three U.S. citizens have been temporarily held before proving their citizenship and being released.

CNN reported a separate incident involving a 22-year-old U.S.-born mother in Marrero, who was followed home by federal agents in an SUV after leaving a grocery store. She described pleading with the agents to leave her alone as her child awaited her at home. Theyre not targeting criminals, said Taber. They are stopping people indiscriminately parents, workers simply because of how they look.

On Wednesday, 14 arrests were reported, with four more the following day. In one case, federal agents broke a mans car windows in a Walmart parking lot before detaining him. Taber described the operation as psychological warfare, targeting individuals with no criminal history based on race.

The Trump administration asserts that its enforcement focuses on the most dangerous offenders. However, the Department of Homeland Security has not confirmed the criminal backgrounds of most detainees, mentioning only dozens of arrests and citing six individuals. Among them, the only conviction noted was for vehicle theft and document forgery.

City residents have been actively supporting immigrant families, offering assistance such as filming operations and helping children reach school safely. At a city council meeting, advocates protested the federal action, displaying signs urging officials to protect immigrants and recognizing their contributions to rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina. The council has launched an online portal for reporting misconduct by federal officers, though activists are calling for official ICE-free zones on city property.

Local activist Mich Gonzalez highlighted the broader impact on daily life, noting that schools, healthcare appointments, and businesses are disrupted, affecting the citys hospitality industry workforce. Protesters clashed briefly with police when council officials attempted to suspend public comments on the issue, chanting slogans against ICE operations.

The duration of the federal operation remains uncertain, with some reports suggesting it could continue into January. Taber described the situation as a siege, with many residents remaining home out of fear of arrest. The economic strain is mounting, as individuals struggle to pay rent and maintain their livelihoods. Businesses remain closed, and the emotional toll on immigrant families is deepening, particularly for children separated from their parents during the holiday season.

Author: Ethan Caldwell