Dozens of residents and community leaders used the Kenner City Council’s public-comment period on Dec. 19 to urge the council to pass ordinances preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol from operating within the city and to stop local police from assisting federal agents.

Greg Piper, who opened the comment period, told the council the community has “witnessed what can only be described as terrorist attacks committed by ICE and Border Patrol,” and called the agents’ show of force “totally unnecessary.” He asked where probable cause was for stops and said residents were afraid to leave their homes.

Several speakers described concrete local impacts. Romeo Martinez, who said he has owned property in Kenner since 1982, said customers and tenants were too frightened to patronize Latin-owned businesses and asked the mayor and council to instruct Kenner police on proper identity-document checks. Kayla Ramirez, a recent criminology graduate, cited news reporting she said showed about 370 people detained statewide during a Louisiana operation and said fewer than 10% had criminal records; she urged the council to change how federal enforcement is carried out locally.

Pastors and community organizers said the raids have eroded trust in local police. Pastor Melquisade Castillo said Chief Keith Conley had told worshippers in March that the police “are not working with us,” and that subsequent events had betrayed that assurance. Several pastors and residents said children are traumatized, parks and recreational programs are emptying, and some families were unable to access services because of fear.

At least one speaker offered a contrasting view: Greg Taft said police must “uphold the law” and that local officers may need to assist federal authorities when required. Other speakers called for ordinances or formal statements from the council refusing collaboration with ICE agents. Jessica Watson asked whether the council or the mayor had approved federal operations in the city; no formal vote or directive by the council on that question was recorded at the meeting.

The council did not take formal action during the meeting on the community requests. The public-comment period ended and the meeting adjourned. Residents said they plan further demonstrations and asked the council for follow-up and clarity about any formal agreements between the city and federal authorities.