KENNER, La. — The doors of Carmela Diaz’s taco joint are locked, tables are devoid of customers, and the kitchen has gone silent. This is a stark reality for many once-thriving Hispanic-owned businesses in Kenner, Louisiana, after a recent federal immigration crackdown focused on making 5,000 arrests.
In a city known for its high concentration of Hispanic residents, anxiety has seeped into the community, already shaky from increased enforcement throughout the year. Fewer and fewer people came, said Diaz, whose Taqueria La Conquistadora has been closed for weeks as customers and workers remain fearful.
Federal immigration enforcement began operations, known as Catahoula Crunch, resulting in noticeable police activity and detainments throughout the commercial areas. Local businesses feel the effects, with Diaz recounting days when sales dwindled to nothing.
Determined to survive, Diaz now relies on home deliveries, but her once-bustling operations have come to an alarming standstill. They don’t respect anyone, she said, voicing her frustration over arbitrary detentions.
As the Hispanic population in Kenner has surged—growing significantly since Hurricane Katrina—many families face the fear of being torn apart. Local residents echo the sentiment, with Sergio Perez, a U.S. citizen from Guatemala, expressing concern for family members lacking legal status who now live under the looming threat of deportation.
DHS officials have stated that their focus is on violent offenders. However, locals express worry that in practice, anyone who appears Hispanic might be subject to scrutiny and potential abuse. The incident underscores a larger trend across America, where communities of immigrants confront heightened challenges under intensified immigration policies.
Mayor Michael Glaser's office has remained silent regarding the operation’s impacts, attributing the crackdown to federal jurisdiction, while city police engage with ICE under agreements to assist in detentions. Amid all the tension, Kenner’s vibrant culture, rich in flavors and heritage, hangs in a precarious balance as fear continuously grips its streets.
In a city known for its high concentration of Hispanic residents, anxiety has seeped into the community, already shaky from increased enforcement throughout the year. Fewer and fewer people came, said Diaz, whose Taqueria La Conquistadora has been closed for weeks as customers and workers remain fearful.
Federal immigration enforcement began operations, known as Catahoula Crunch, resulting in noticeable police activity and detainments throughout the commercial areas. Local businesses feel the effects, with Diaz recounting days when sales dwindled to nothing.
Determined to survive, Diaz now relies on home deliveries, but her once-bustling operations have come to an alarming standstill. They don’t respect anyone, she said, voicing her frustration over arbitrary detentions.
As the Hispanic population in Kenner has surged—growing significantly since Hurricane Katrina—many families face the fear of being torn apart. Local residents echo the sentiment, with Sergio Perez, a U.S. citizen from Guatemala, expressing concern for family members lacking legal status who now live under the looming threat of deportation.
DHS officials have stated that their focus is on violent offenders. However, locals express worry that in practice, anyone who appears Hispanic might be subject to scrutiny and potential abuse. The incident underscores a larger trend across America, where communities of immigrants confront heightened challenges under intensified immigration policies.
Mayor Michael Glaser's office has remained silent regarding the operation’s impacts, attributing the crackdown to federal jurisdiction, while city police engage with ICE under agreements to assist in detentions. Amid all the tension, Kenner’s vibrant culture, rich in flavors and heritage, hangs in a precarious balance as fear continuously grips its streets.
