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Residents urge Jefferson Parish to demand transparency and protections after large federal immigration operations
Summary
More than two dozen residents and community leaders told the Jefferson Parish Council their neighborhoods are living in fear after recent ICE/Border Patrol enforcement operations, urging the council to seek transparency, provide residents with legal-rights information, and consider noncooperation measures.
Gretna — A broad coalition of residents, faith leaders, business groups and nonprofit organizations used the Jefferson Parish Council’s public-comment period on Dec. 10 to press elected officials for action and transparency after large-scale federal immigration enforcement deployments that speakers say have disrupted daily life in the parish.
Speakers included Sarita Stav of Operation Restoration, Myra Pineda, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, Riza Petrie (chairwoman of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), clergy and dozens of residents. Their testimony described falling school attendance, reduced business patronage, canceled medical appointments and pervasive fear after enforcement activity widely referred to in the meeting as "Operation Catahoula Crunch."
"This is not an isolated struggle," Myra Pineda said, listing local economic and…
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