New Orleans — Before sunrise at 5:30 a.m., immigration officers and drug enforcement agents arrested a man near New Orleans. This was part of daily operations aimed at detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants accused of crimes.
During this particular raid, ICE planned to arrest three people they say are in the country illegally and recently faced criminal charges.
“We’re focusing on our cases now more than ever,” said Brian Acuna, an ICE deputy field officer. “We want to remove the worst offenders from the streets.”
ICE says these actions are a top priority as the Trump administration steps up efforts to crack down on illegal immigration. The White House reported that more than 8,000 people have been arrested since President Trump took office.
Steven Holfer, who leads the DEA in New Orleans, said his team is helping ICE every day, even if it means putting other work on hold.
Planned Arrests and Unexpected Detentions
The early-morning arrest in Metairie, Louisiana, was carefully planned. ICE agents detained a man charged with rape. Another man in the same car, who was undocumented, was also taken into custody. ICE calls these kinds of arrests “collateral” because the second man was not their original target.
“If we come across others during an operation, our supervisors decide what to do on a case-by-case basis,” Acuna explained.
Fears of Family Separation
Gracey, a 25-year-old from Honduras, is terrified of being separated from her children. She has lived in the U.S. for five years and has not committed any crimes. While her immigration case is still being processed, she has temporary permission to live and work in the U.S.
Her younger daughter, 3, is a U.S. citizen, but her older daughter, 8, is undocumented. If deported, Gracey fears she may never see them again.
“What will happen to my family?” she asked. “I don’t have any options for my daughter. That is my biggest fear.”
New Orleans’ Sanctuary City Policies Under Pressure
New Orleans is home to more than 10,000 non-citizens, and many are undocumented, according to the 2023 U.S. Census. However, a recent Louisiana law bans the policies that allow New Orleans to act as a sanctuary city, the only one in the Gulf region.
Acuna says New Orleans’ policies make ICE’s job harder.
“All other sheriffs work with us, except for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office,” Acuna said. “When they don’t cooperate, we have to use extra resources to go back and re-arrest people who should have already been in our custody.”
ICE is trying to find ways to get more cooperation.
“We work on it every day,” Acuna said. “This has been a challenge here since 2013.”
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office declined to comment, but District Attorney Jason Williams said they only help ICE in cases involving violent criminals. He believes New Orleans will continue to protect undocumented immigrants.
“New Orleans is a city of love and tolerance, and that won’t change just because the administration does,” Williams said.
Gracey hopes nothing changes when it comes to keeping her family together. Despite the risks, she still believes she is where she belongs.
“Even though some parts of the system don’t support us, there are many good people here,” she said. “I feel like I’m in the right place.”