Federal Immigration Crackdown Affects Kenner's Hispanic-Owned Businesses

Fri Dec 05 2025 09:44:35 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Federal immigration operations have left Kenner's vibrant Hispanic community in distress, leading many local businesses to shut down as residents fear deportation.

Kenner, Louisiana, known for its high concentration of Hispanic residents, is experiencing a significant economic downturn due to a federal immigration crackdown aimed at arresting 5,000 individuals. Business owners like Carmela Diaz of Taqueria La Conquistadora report a drastic decline in customers, forcing them to close their doors as residents fear leaving home. The mayor has not commented on the operations, while the Department of Homeland Security claims the aim is to target violent offenders. This situation has left many in the community fearful and uncertain about their future.

KENNER, La. — The doors of Carmela Diaz’s taco joint are locked, the tables are devoid of customers, and no one is working in the kitchen. It’s one of many once-thriving Hispanic businesses that have emptied out in recent weeks in neighborhoods filled with signs in Spanish but increasingly fewer people on the streets.

In Kenner, which has the highest concentration of Hispanic residents in Louisiana, a federal immigration crackdown aiming for 5,000 arrests has devastated an economy already struggling from ramped-up enforcement this year, say some business owners.

“Fewer and fewer people came,” Diaz said while in tears, stating that her Taqueria La Conquistadora has been closed for several weeks due to fear among customers and workers. “There were days we didn’t sell anything. That’s why I made the decision to close the business — because there was no business.”

On Wednesday, federal vehicles began moving through Kenner’s commercial streets as the Department of Homeland Security commenced the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations, which have affected cities like Los Angeles and Chicago. Videos surfaced online showing federal agents detaining individuals outside local businesses and construction sites.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, flanked by agents in tactical gear, announced the operation Catahoula Crunch, referencing Louisiana's state dog.

A community on edge

The state’s Hispanic population has significantly increased over the past two decades, primarily due to rebuild efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In Kenner, Hispanics make up about 30% of residents.

Diaz, who hails from El Salvador, moved to the area in 2006 after working in Texas. She successfully expanded her food truck business into a fleet and opened two restaurants, all of which are now shuttered due to the crackdown. Currently, she relies on home deliveries to provide for customers hesitant to leave their homes.

“They don’t respect anyone,” Diaz lamented, recalling how agents detain people without asking for documentation.

DHS says operations target violent offenders

DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin reported that federal agents have made dozens of arrests, emphasizing that the operations are focused on violent criminals. “Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens harming them,” she stated.

The city’s Mayor Michael Glaser refrained from commenting specifically on the crackdown, but his office indicated that these operations fall under federal jurisdiction. Moreover, local law enforcement agencies participate in an ICE program that allows them to hold detainees for possible deportation.

Fearing for vulnerable relatives

Sergio Perez, a Guatemalan immigrant and U.S. citizen living in Kenner, fears for his family members who are undocumented. He expressed concern that anyone Hispanic may face abuse regardless of their immigration status.

“They don’t want us here,” Perez commented. “It’s like you are in someone’s house and you don’t feel welcome.”