New Orleans Police Recruit Detained Amid Immigration Controversy

Thu Feb 05 2026 02:17:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The New Orleans Police Department faces allegations of violating federal immigration laws after one of its recruits, Larry Temah, was detained by ICE while preparing to graduate from the police academy.

Larry Temah, a Cameroonian national and police recruit in New Orleans, was arrested by ICE due to a final order of removal. The New Orleans Police Department disputed claims of wrongdoing, stating that they had verified Temah's employment eligibility prior to his detention. This incident intensifies local tensions regarding immigration enforcement policies following a federal crackdown.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Police Department is rejecting accusations of wrongdoing after one of its recruits was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which claimed the city violated federal immigration laws.

Last month, federal agents arrested Larry Temah, a 46-year-old Cameroonian national, who was in the police academy and just months away from graduation. He had previously entered the U.S. in 2015 on a valid visitor visa and married a U.S. citizen in 2016, obtaining conditional residency. However, his application for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to alleged fraud.

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Criminal illegal aliens have no place in our communities — especially on our police forces.” In response, New Orleans Police Department spokesperson Reese Harper labeled DHS's remarks about Temah as misleading, asserting that the department had confirmed his employment eligibility and was unaware of ICE's plans to detain him until his arrest.

“New Orleans is not a sanctuary city,” Harper added, dismissing the claim that the NOPD knowingly violated any laws.

Temah had not been equipped with a firearm since he was still completing the police academy. This incident has drawn scrutiny amid heightened tensions regarding New Orleans' approach to immigration enforcement, particularly following Operation Catahoula Crunch, a federal crackdown that started in December.

While ICE has redirected resources towards other cities, accusations of New Orleans undermining immigration enforcement persist, fueled by legislation aimed at enforcing collaboration with federal authorities. NOPD Chief Anne Kirkpatrick recently asserted that no legal issues related to Temah’s status surfaced during his hiring process, citing no criminal history and valid documentation during his time in the U.S.

Temah remains in custody as he awaits deportation, and efforts for legal representation have not been reported. The NOPD has continued to argue its compliance with federal law in its hiring and operational practices.