New Orleans’ incoming mayor expressed concerns on Friday regarding a recent federal immigration operation that has sparked backlash due to encounters between masked agents and residents. The incident involving Jacelynn Guzman, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, who was approached by federal agents while returning home from the grocery store, has drawn attention.
Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino deployed hundreds of agents to southeast Louisiana as part of an operation to detain 5,000 individuals. While the Department of Homeland Security has reported numerous arrests, details remain limited, causing anxiety among Hispanic residents who fear potential abuse or detention, regardless of their legal status.
Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, accompanied by city council members, Democratic Rep. Troy Carter, Hispanic leaders, and civil rights advocates, voiced deep concerns over the consequences of the operation. She highlighted the negative impact on local businesses and workers, who are staying home out of fear of widespread arrests.
Moreno emphasized the need for transparency from federal agencies, requesting detailed information on stops, detentions, charges, warrants, outcomes, and the criminal backgrounds of those detained. She questioned the operation’s focus on apprehending dangerous criminals, citing the need for clarity on the enforcement strategy.
Jacelynn Guzman’s stepfather, Juan Anglin, expressed dissatisfaction with the agents’ approach, stating that his stepdaughter felt threatened by the aggressive encounter. The Department of Homeland Security clarified that agents were searching for a criminal illegal alien, but upon realizing Guzman was not the target, they departed.
Anglin refuted the government’s explanation, alleging that Guzman was stopped based on her appearance. He criticized the profiling of individuals based on their ethnicity, emphasizing the need for a more discerning and respectful approach in immigration enforcement.