NEW ORLEANS (RTWNews) — The New Orleans Police Department has asserted that it acted lawfully amid a controversy surrounding the detention of a police recruit by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for supposed immigration violations. Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit from Cameroon, was apprehended last month while he was still enrolled in the police academy, where he was nearing graduation. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Temah has a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge back in December. He currently remains in custody pending deportation.
Temah entered the U.S. in 2015 on a visitor visa and married a U.S. citizen in 2016, gaining conditional residency. However, his permanent residency application was denied in 2022 due to alleged fraud, as stated by DHS.
DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, expressed strong sentiments, stating, “Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces.” In response to these allegations, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper described the claims as misleading, asserting that the department had verified Temah's employment eligibility through the proper channels with DHS. Harper stressed that the department had no prior notification of ICE’s intent to detain Temah until the day of his arrest.
“New Orleans is not a sanctuary city,” Harper emphasized, dismissing any suggestions that the NOPD knowingly violated laws. While the department confirmed that Temah was not issued a gun, as he was still completing his training, the incident has sparked a broader debate regarding operations like the recent Operation Catahoula Crunch, a sweeping immigration crackdown that began in December and has been met with local resistance.
As the NOPD continues to assert its position, Chief Anne Kirkpatrick remarked that Temah was considered a viable candidate during the hiring process, stating that nothing regarding his legal status raised concerns at that time. Amid rising tensions between local and federal authorities concerning immigration oversight, Temah’s case has highlighted the complexities faced within immigration enforcement and law enforcement protocols.
Temah entered the U.S. in 2015 on a visitor visa and married a U.S. citizen in 2016, gaining conditional residency. However, his permanent residency application was denied in 2022 due to alleged fraud, as stated by DHS.
DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, expressed strong sentiments, stating, “Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces.” In response to these allegations, NOPD spokesperson Reese Harper described the claims as misleading, asserting that the department had verified Temah's employment eligibility through the proper channels with DHS. Harper stressed that the department had no prior notification of ICE’s intent to detain Temah until the day of his arrest.
“New Orleans is not a sanctuary city,” Harper emphasized, dismissing any suggestions that the NOPD knowingly violated laws. While the department confirmed that Temah was not issued a gun, as he was still completing his training, the incident has sparked a broader debate regarding operations like the recent Operation Catahoula Crunch, a sweeping immigration crackdown that began in December and has been met with local resistance.
As the NOPD continues to assert its position, Chief Anne Kirkpatrick remarked that Temah was considered a viable candidate during the hiring process, stating that nothing regarding his legal status raised concerns at that time. Amid rising tensions between local and federal authorities concerning immigration oversight, Temah’s case has highlighted the complexities faced within immigration enforcement and law enforcement protocols.
