ICE Detains New Orleans Police Recruit with Illegal Immigration Status

Recruit was one week away from graduating police academy when arrested by ICE for lacking work authorization

Feb. 4, 2026 at 11:39pm

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ICE recently arrested Larry Temah, a 46-year-old recruit with the New Orleans Police Department, who was identified as an illegal immigrant from Cameroon. Temah had entered the U.S. legally in 2015 on a visitor visa, gained conditional residency in 2016 after marrying a U.S. citizen, but his bid for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to fraud. Despite having an active deportation order and lacking work authorization, Temah was hired by the New Orleans Police Department and was just one week away from graduating from the police academy when he was detained by ICE.

Why it matters

This case raises serious concerns about the hiring and vetting practices of the New Orleans Police Department, as well as broader questions about how illegal immigrants are able to obtain positions of authority, especially those involving the use of firearms. It also highlights the need for stronger enforcement of immigration laws and better coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

The details

According to reports, Temah entered the United States legally in 2015 on a visitor visa, but his bid for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to fraud. Despite having an active deportation order and lacking work authorization, Temah was hired by the New Orleans Police Department and was just one week away from graduating from the police academy when he was detained by ICE.

  • Temah entered the U.S. legally in 2015 on a visitor visa.
  • Temah gained conditional residency in 2016 after marrying a U.S. citizen.
  • Temah's bid for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to fraud.
  • Temah was hired by the New Orleans Police Department and was one week away from graduating from the police academy when he was detained by ICE in 2026.

The players

Larry Temah

A 46-year-old recruit with the New Orleans Police Department who was identified as an illegal immigrant from Cameroon.

Tricia McLaughlin

DHS Assistant Secretary who criticized the New Orleans Police Department for hiring Temah and issuing him a firearm despite his illegal immigration status.

New Orleans Police Department

The law enforcement agency that hired Temah, a recruit with an active deportation order and no legal right to work in the United States, and issued him a firearm.

ICE

The federal immigration enforcement agency that recently arrested Temah.

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What they’re saying

“This illegal alien from Cameroon...is not only breaking the law with every step he takes in this country illegally, but the New Orleans Police Department hired him and issued him a firearm – what kind of law enforcement department gives criminal illegal aliens guns and badges?”

— Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary (Fox News)

“It's a FELONY for illegal aliens to even possess a firearm.”

— Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary (Fox News)

What’s next

The New Orleans Police Department and the city's leadership will likely face intense scrutiny over their hiring and vetting practices in the wake of this incident. ICE has indicated a renewed push to address such lapses in enforcement, signaling that the days of turning a blind eye to immigration violations may be coming to an end.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of robust background checks and immigration status verification in the hiring of law enforcement officers. It also underscores the need for better coordination between local police departments and federal immigration authorities to ensure that individuals with active deportation orders or no legal right to work in the United States are not given positions of authority, especially those involving the use of firearms.