New Orleans leaders blast immigration crackdown, pointing to video of agents chasing US citizen

New Orleans’ mayor-elect expressed grave concern Friday over a federal immigration enforcement operation that has sparked outrage across the city after multiple confrontations between masked agents and residents were captured on video.

The operation, which began this week, has already created significant disruption in local communities, according to Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, who held a press conference alongside city council members, Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, Hispanic leaders, and civil rights advocates.

One incident that has drawn particular attention involved Jacelynn Guzman, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen who was pursued by federal agents while walking home from a grocery store in Marrero, a neighborhood across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans.

Security footage obtained by The Associated Press shows Guzman being approached by two masked federal agents who pulled up beside her in a truck on Wednesday. As a second vehicle arrived, Guzman fled on foot with agents pursuing her until she reached her family’s home.

“We’re legal, we are from here, born and raised,” Guzman shouted at the agents during the encounter. “Don’t chase me, that is disgusting.”

Guzman, who has no criminal record, told the AP she panicked when the agents approached. “That was my only thought that they were going to take me and I wasn’t going to get to have a say in that decision,” she explained. “Because most likely they didn’t care that I was saying I was a U.S. citizen. So why would they care what else I had to say?”

The Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents were searching for a “criminal illegal alien previously charged with felony theft and convicted of illegal possession of stolen property.” Officials claimed agents “encountered a female matching the description of the target,” identified themselves, and departed when they realized Guzman was not the person they sought.

Guzman’s stepfather, Juan Anglin, disputes this account. He heard his stepdaughter screaming and went outside to confront the agents, believing she might be getting kidnapped.

“Just because you look brown, you look Hispanic, you’re going to get stopped,” Anglin said. “Because now it doesn’t matter if you have papers, you speak English or you are a citizen, it’s not enough.”

The operation in Southeast Louisiana involves several hundred agents under Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. Federal officials have stated they aim to arrest 5,000 people, focusing on dangerous criminals who entered the country illegally. While DHS has announced dozens of arrests, few details have been provided about those detained.

Mayor-elect Moreno challenged the official narrative that the operation targets only dangerous offenders. “That does not appear to be the case,” she said, noting that businesses have shuttered and workers have stayed home out of fear of mass arrests.

Moreno is calling for regular public briefings from federal agencies that include comprehensive data on stops, detentions, charges, warrants, outcomes, and whether those detained have violent criminal histories.

“Without this full visibility into these enforcement actions, it is impossible to determine whether this particular operation is actually targeting the most dangerous offenders,” Moreno emphasized.

The operation has created particular anxiety within New Orleans’ Hispanic community. Many residents report feeling at risk of being detained or abused by federal agents regardless of their legal status. This fear has had immediate economic consequences as some businesses have temporarily closed and employees have avoided going to work.

The situation in New Orleans highlights growing tensions between federal immigration enforcement policies and local governance in cities with significant immigrant populations. As a traditionally Democratic-leaning city, New Orleans has found itself at odds with aggressive federal immigration tactics that local leaders argue are causing more harm than good to community safety and cohesion.

Civil rights advocates present at Friday’s press conference expressed concern about potential racial profiling and due process violations during the operation, pointing to Guzman’s case as evidence that even U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent may be targeted based on appearance.

As the operation continues, local officials have pledged to monitor the situation closely and advocate for transparency and accountability from federal agencies involved in the enforcement action.