Immigration Raid at New Orleans Construction Site Raises Concerns

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Immigration agents conducting a raid at a construction site in New Orleans.

News Summary

Federal immigration agents conducted a raid at the Mirabeau Water Garden construction site in New Orleans, detaining multiple workers. The operation sparked fears among the local Hispanic community, as businesses expressed concerns about the impact on immigrant labor. The M.R. Pittman Group, managing a federally funded drainage project, remained silent on how the arrests might affect ongoing work. Meanwhile, the local community awaits further information from ICE regarding the detentions and their implications for workers and businesses in the area.

New Orleans – Federal immigration agents conducted a raid on the Mirabeau Water Garden construction site in the Gentilly neighborhood on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, detaining multiple workers. The operation began at approximately 7:15 a.m. when several vehicles and a helicopter arrived at the location.

Witnesses reported that only a limited number of workers were at the site the following day, May 28. Employees from the M.R. Pittman Group were just initiating their workday when the raid took place. An anonymous worker indicated that the construction site was completely surrounded during the operation, with agents questioning nearly everyone present about their residency status and work permits.

One worker, who resides in Louisiana on a U visa, was detained but not arrested after presenting his work permit along with his driver’s license. While no specific information has been disclosed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), preliminary estimates from the detained worker suggested that around 12 to 15 individuals may have been arrested during the raid.

Concerns have emerged regarding the impact of these arrests on the local community. A representative from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana expressed worries that such actions could instigate fear among Hispanic workers, potentially affecting businesses that employ them. A sense of general panic reportedly swept through both laborers and businesses following the raid.

The M.R. Pittman Group, which is executing a $30 million federally funded drainage project intended to alleviate flooding in local neighborhoods, has declined to comment on how the arrests might influence the project. City Councilman Eugene Green stated that this important infrastructure initiative is scheduled for completion later this year.

Despite inquiries, multiple media outlets have reported that ICE has withheld further details regarding the incident, leaving questions regarding the number of detentions and the reasons for the enforcement action unanswered. The lack of information from the agency has fueled uncertainty in the local community and among immigrant populations.

This raid is part of broader immigration enforcement efforts that have raised significant concern and debate across the country. The operations aim to ensure that employers comply with immigration laws but often lead to heightened anxiety among immigrant families and communities. The sensitivity surrounding workplace raids can have lasting implications, not only for those directly affected but also for businesses reliant on immigrant labor.

As the situation continues to develop, the community awaits further information from ICE regarding the outcome of the raid and its implications for workers, employers, and ongoing construction projects in New Orleans.