New Orleans Police Department Defends Hiring Practices Amid Immigration Controversy

Thu Feb 05 2026 04:25:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The New Orleans Police Department is facing scrutiny after one of its recruits was detained by ICE, raising questions about the city's compliance with federal immigration laws.

The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has denied allegations of wrongdoing after Larry Temah, a police recruit facing deportation, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Temah, originally from Cameroon, was in the police academy at the time of his arrest. NOPD officials assert they conducted due diligence during the hiring process, highlighting that Temah's employment eligibility had been verified through a DHS system. Tensions between local authorities and federal immigration enforcement have escalated amid ongoing crackdowns in the area.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Police Department is defending its hiring practices amid controversy over the detention of one of its recruits, Larry Temah, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for allegedly violating federal immigration laws.

Temah, a 46-year-old national from Cameroon, was arrested last month while undergoing training in the NOPD's police academy. He had been present in the U.S. since 2015 on a visitor visa and held conditional residency through marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, his application for permanent residency was denied last year due to claims of fraud.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces. In contrast, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper labeled DHS's comments as misleading, explaining that the NOPD had confirmed Temah's eligibility for employment and had not been informed by ICE of any issues until the day of his arrest.

New Orleans is not a sanctuary city, Harper emphasized, countering any assertions of malfeasance on the part of the police department.

Harper detailed that Temah had not been issued a firearm since he was still in training. The situation between local law enforcement and federal authorities has escalated following Operation Catahoula Crunch, an immigration enforcement initiative in New Orleans that has reportedly been paused as federal agents redirected their focus to Minneapolis.

In past years, New Orleans has faced allegations from previous administrations regarding undermining federal immigration enforcement, leading to state-level legislation aimed at compelling collaboration with ICE.

Chief Anne Kirkpatrick has assured that no legal discrepancies were discovered during Temah's hiring process, asserting that the department's due diligence was thoroughly conducted. Temah possesses a valid social security card and has no criminal record.

DHS declined to clarify the reasons behind Temah's prior eligibility status or the specific details of the alleged fraud in his residency application.

The NOPD has yet to disclose information regarding legal representation for Temah. As the situation unfolds, it raises significant concerns about the intersection of local policing and immigration enforcement policies.

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