KENNER, La. — Vilma Cruz, a 38-year-old Honduran house painter and mother of two, found herself entangled in the ongoing immigration crackdown as federal agents surrounded her car moments after she arrived at her new home in Kenner, Louisiana. In a sudden move, agents smashed the window and detained her, leading her 18-year-old son, Jonathan Escalante, to take over responsibilities for his 9-year-old sister with a disability.
Cruz's arrest is part of a larger operation, dubbed 'Catahoula Crunch', which has aimed to apprehend up to 5,000 undocumented individuals across the region. Despite claims by the Department of Homeland Security that targets are violent offenders, many caught up in the arrests reportedly have no criminal histories. The operation has particularly struck fear into families, compelling them to establish emergency custody plans to ensure their children's care in the event of parental detention.
While some local officials, like Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, express concern over the broader economic impacts of the operations, DHS continues to justify the actions. Community advocates argue that these arrests are unnecessarily disrupting lives, with children unsure if their parents will return home.
Families like Cruz's and that of Jose Reyes, another detained individual whose children were left sobbing during the arrest, serve as stark reminders of the emotional turmoil and instability inflicted upon households caught in the crackdown.
Children are now tasked with unprecedented responsibilities, often having to protect younger siblings from the fallout of these operations. Advocacy groups are stepping in to assist families as fear grows within immigrant communities.
Cruz's arrest is part of a larger operation, dubbed 'Catahoula Crunch', which has aimed to apprehend up to 5,000 undocumented individuals across the region. Despite claims by the Department of Homeland Security that targets are violent offenders, many caught up in the arrests reportedly have no criminal histories. The operation has particularly struck fear into families, compelling them to establish emergency custody plans to ensure their children's care in the event of parental detention.
While some local officials, like Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, express concern over the broader economic impacts of the operations, DHS continues to justify the actions. Community advocates argue that these arrests are unnecessarily disrupting lives, with children unsure if their parents will return home.
Families like Cruz's and that of Jose Reyes, another detained individual whose children were left sobbing during the arrest, serve as stark reminders of the emotional turmoil and instability inflicted upon households caught in the crackdown.
Children are now tasked with unprecedented responsibilities, often having to protect younger siblings from the fallout of these operations. Advocacy groups are stepping in to assist families as fear grows within immigrant communities.
