KENNER, La. — The doors of Carmela Diaz’s taco joint are locked, with tables devoid of customers, reflecting a striking change in the atmosphere of what was once a bustling hub for the Hispanic community. The changes are symptomatic of a broader trend affecting Hispanic-owned businesses across the nation, particularly in Kenner, Louisiana, where the recent federal immigration crackdown has hit hard.
Kenner, which boasts the highest concentration of Hispanic residents in the state, finds itself at the center of a rigorous enforcement initiative aimed at apprehending 5,000 undocumented immigrants. Business owners and local residents are feeling the strain, as the enforcement actions have coincided with an economic downturn, leaving shops and eateries like Diaz’s, Taqueria La Conquistadora, closed and silent.
“There were days we didn’t sell anything,” Diaz lamented, reflecting the anxiety shared by many in the community. With customers and employees hesitant to leave their homes amidst escalating enforcement activities, she made the difficult decision to shutter her restaurant temporarily.
The heightened presence of federal agents is palpable. Videos of apprehensions surface regularly as the Department of Homeland Security launches operations across several cities, including Kenner. One recent operation, dubbed Catahoula Crunch, saw Border Patrol agents conducting searches in the neighborhood, amplifying fears among both undocumented and legal residents alike.
A Community Shaken
The Hispanic population in Kenner has significantly grown over the past two decades, particularly following Hurricane Katrina when many arrived to assist in rebuilding efforts. This community now comprises approximately 30% of Kenner’s population, playing a vital role in the local economy.
Diaz, originally from El Salvador, built her small enterprise into two restaurants and a fleet of food trucks. The ongoing crackdown has placed immense pressure on her business, forcing her to rely on home deliveries to keep afloat, while her physical locations remain closed.
“They don’t respect anyone,” Diaz expressed, criticizing the aggressive tactics used during detentions. “They don’t ask for documents. They don’t investigate.”
DHS Response
In response to these operations, the Department of Homeland Security maintains that their efforts target violent offenders, emphasizing that many arrests have stemmed from significant criminal backgrounds. “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens harming them,” stated DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.
The city’s Mayor, Michael Glaser, has not commented directly on the operations but has reiterated the importance of lawful conduct by all involved agencies. While the city remains uninvolved in the enforcement actions, its local police are still aligned with federal immigration protocols, raising concerns within the community about complicity in the crackdown.
Fear for Family and Community
Among those affected is Sergio Perez, a Guatemalan immigrant and U.S. citizen, who worries for relatives at risk of deportation. His sentiments echo a common fear: the feeling of vulnerability and unwelcome within a place they once considered home. “It’s like you are in someone’s house and you don’t feel welcome,” he said. “They’re just killing our spirit.”
The state of Kenner’s Hispanic businesses reflects a troubling reality caught in the tensions between federal immigration policy and the lives of ordinary citizens, revealing the complexity of identity and belonging in contemporary America.
