New Orleans’ incoming mayor criticized a recent federal immigration operation for its detrimental impact, sparking public outrage as masked agents engaged with residents, leading to confrontations captured on video. City officials highlighted the case of Jacelynn Guzman, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, who was approached by federal agents while walking home in Louisiana. Despite Guzman’s protests of her citizenship and local roots, the agents pursued her until she reached safety.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino deployed hundreds of agents to southeast Louisiana as part of an immigration enforcement initiative aiming to apprehend 5,000 individuals. The operation, shrouded in limited details, has raised concerns among Hispanic residents who fear unjust treatment or detention based on their ethnicity rather than legal status.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, joined by city council members, Rep. Troy Carter, Hispanic leaders, and civil rights advocates, voiced deep apprehension over the federal agents’ actions. She criticized the operation for causing harm by instilling fear in the community, leading to closures of businesses and workers staying home to avoid potential arrests.

While federal authorities claim the operation targets dangerous criminals who entered the country unlawfully, Moreno expressed doubts about the effectiveness of these efforts. She called for transparent public briefings from federal agencies to provide comprehensive data on enforcement activities, including stops, detentions, charges, outcomes, and criminal histories of those detained.

Guzman’s stepfather, Juan Anglin, expressed understanding of the agents’ duties but criticized their approach as intimidating and unjust. He recounted the distressing moment when Guzman fled from the agents, fearing for her safety as a young woman confronted by aggressive officials.

In response, the Department of Homeland Security stated that agents were seeking a criminal suspect with a history of felony charges, emphasizing that they withdrew upon realizing Guzman was not the target. However, Anglin disputed this explanation, alleging that Guzman was targeted based solely on her appearance, emphasizing the discrimination faced by individuals of Hispanic descent in such encounters.