New Orleans Police Recruit Arrested by ICE Despite Deportation Order
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made an arrest involving a New Orleans police recruit from Cameroon. Larry Tema, 46, was taken into custody on January 28, just a week before his scheduled graduation from the police academy, even though there was an existing deportation order against him.
ICE released a statement on Tuesday detailing that Tema was armed with a firearm provided by the New Orleans Police Department, despite federal regulations that bar illegal immigrants from possessing guns.
According to ICE, Tema originally entered the U.S. legally on a visitor visa in 2015 and later became a conditional resident after marrying an American citizen in 2016. However, in 2022, his attempt to apply for permanent residency was denied due to allegations of fraud.
The situation escalated because Tema missed three immigration court hearings, which ultimately led to an immigration judge ordering him to be deported in absentia.
ICE noted that Tema does not possess a valid work permit and is currently in custody while awaiting the results of his release proceedings.
Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, expressed strong criticism of the New Orleans Police Department for hiring Tema. She raised concerns about the implications of providing a firearm to someone who is in the country illegally, emphasizing, “It is a felony for an illegal alien to possess a firearm.”
On the other hand, a spokesperson for the New Orleans Police Department countered ICE’s claims, stating that the department had verified Tema’s employment eligibility through the E-Verify system before hiring him. They insisted that they were not informed of any ICE detainees and clarified that New Orleans is not a sanctuary city. The spokesperson further emphasized that the NOPD does not have control over jail operations or detainer decisions, which are under the Sheriff’s Office’s jurisdiction.
In summary, this complex case illustrates the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement and local law enforcement practices. While ICE asserts that federal laws were violated, the NOPD maintains its innocence in the matter, which has created quite a stir among local and federal officials alike.
