New Orleans Police Chief Delivers Major Blow to ICE
New Orleans Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno, left, and Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
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Liberal mayor-elect Helena Moreno said Wednesday she is “disturbed” by reports of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in other cities and vowed to protect New Orleanians’ rights. She said her office will connect residents with attorneys who have volunteered to provide taxpayer-funded legal advice.
Speaking at an event for Women of the Storm at City Park, Moreno also expressed concern about Border Patrol agents concealing their faces and not wearing identifiable uniforms during immigration raids. She warned this practice could cause confusion and even violence, noting that Louisiana law allows residents to carry concealed firearms without a permit.
“If you are a masked person and not identifiable as an officer, approaching people could create a serious safety risk for everyone involved, including the Border Patrol or ICE agent,” Moreno said.
Moreno, born in Veracruz, Mexico, takes office on Jan. 12. She said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick, 66, made a “very strong request” to Border Patrol that agents wear identifiable uniforms and avoid masks.
Federal officials say the operation, called “Catahoula Crunch,” targets violent offenders. Moreno, however, questioned whether that is what is happening in practice.
“Do we want the most violent criminals off our streets? Absolutely. No one objects to that. But what we’ve been seeing in other cities is Border Patrol appears to be targeting Brown people and potentially violating their due process rights,” Moreno said.
She encouraged residents to document any concerning activity. On Wednesday, the City Council launched an online reporting system for witnesses to upload videos, photos, and other information about potential abuses. The platform is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, English, and Arabic, and provides handouts to educate the public about their rights.
Moreno’s transition team has also recruited attorneys to provide free legal assistance to those affected, with a local law school offering volunteer training. A fact sheet on residents’ rights has also been published.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick, speaking at the same event, reiterated that NOPD does not ask about immigration status and does not enforce federal immigration laws.
“We want our immigrant community to feel safe and see us as one,” she said.
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