Shops empty in a Hispanic neighborhood as immigration crackdown comes to Louisiana

KENNER, La. (AP) — 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, from Nicaraguan eateries to Honduran restaurants, emptied out in recent weeks in neighborhoods with lots of signs in Spanish but increasingly fewer people on the streets.

In the city of 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 efforts this year, some business owners say, and had far-reaching impacts on both immigrants and U.S. citizens alike.

“Fewer and fewer people came,” said a crying Diaz, whose Taqueria La Conquistadora has been closed for several weeks now with both customers and workers afraid to leave home. “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, convoys of federal vehicles began rumbling back and forth down Kenner's main commercial streets as the Department of Homeland Security commenced the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations that have included surges in Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina. Bystanders have posted videos of federal agents detaining people outside Kenner businesses and at construction sites.

Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino also made an appearance in the city, surrounded by agents in tactical gear, to tout to reporters the launch of the operation dubbed Catahoula Crunch, a name derived from the big game hound that is the Louisiana state dog.

The state's Hispanic population has boomed in the last two decades, with many of them arriving in the aftermath of 2005's Hurricane Katrina to help rebuild. In Kenner, just west of New Orleans between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, Hispanics make up about 30% of residents.

Diaz, who is from El Salvador, arrived in 2006 after years of doing farm work in Texas. She opened food trucks, earning enough to buy a home in Kenner, and her business has since expanded to a fleet of trucks and two brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Nearly all that is shuttered at the moment due to the crackdown, and Diaz is scraping by through making home deliveries to people fearful of being swept up by agents.

“They don’t respect anyone,” Diaz said. “They don’t ask for documents. They don’t investigate. They slap the handcuffs on them and take them away.”

Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said Thursday that federal agents have already made dozens of arrests, though the agency has not released a full list of people detained.

“Americans should be able to live without fear of violent criminal illegal aliens harming them, their families, or their neighbors,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “In just 24 hours on the ground, our law enforcement officers have arrested violent criminals with rap sheets that include homicide, kidnapping, child abuse, robbery, theft, and assault.”

The office of Mayor Michael Glaser, a former police chief, declined to comment on his stance on the operation. But it said the crackdown “falls under federal jurisdiction” and the mayor expects all agencies operating in the city to conduct themselves “professionally, lawfully and with respect for our community.” It also said the city is “not participating in or advising” on the operation.

However, the city's police are among the hundreds of local and state law enforcement agencies nationwide that have signed agreements to be part of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that authorizes them to hold detainees for potential deportation.

Sergio Perez, a Guatemalan immigrant and U.S. citizen who has lived in Kenner since 2010, said he has loved ones there who lack legal permission to be in the country risk and being detained or deported. He also worries that anyone who is Hispanic is at risk of abuse by federal agents, regardless of their immigration status.

While Perez considers Kenner home — a place where it's easy to find favorite dishes like “caldo de res,” a hearty beef and vegetable stew — he's prepared to leave the country if family members are deported.

“They don’t want us here,” Perez said. “It’s like you are in someone’s house and you don’t feel welcome. They’re just killing our spirit.”

Cline reported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Associated Press writer Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, contributed.

Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Carmela Diaz speaks inside her closed restaurant in the midst of a Customs and Border Protection immigration crackdown in Kenner, La., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrive at a Home Depot in Kenner, La.,Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A Customs and Border Protection agent exits a vehicle after agents apprehended two people during an operation Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Kenner, La. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Carmela Diaz poses inside her closed restaurant in the midst of a Customs and Border Protection immigration crackdown in Kenner, La., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Carmela Diaz speaks inside her closed restaurant in the midst of a Customs and Border Protection immigration crackdown in Kenner, La., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

DETROIT (AP) — Jahmyr Gibbs ran three touchdowns, the last a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed the Detroit Lions' much-needed 44-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

The Lions (8-5) avoided losing consecutive games for the first time in more than three years as they seek to move into position for a playoff berth with a month remaining in the regular season.

The Cowboys (6-6-1) had surged into postseason contention with a three-game winning streak. But against the Lions, the NFL’s top-ranked offense had to lean on powerful kicker Brandon Aubrey too much and Dallas' revitalized defense was humbled.

Jared Goff went 25 of 34 for 309 yards with a 12-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa that put Detroit ahead 27-9.

Dallas pulled within three points twice in the fourth quarter, including with 3:42 left when Aubrey matched a career high with his fifth field goal.

Tom Kennedy returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield and Goff threw a 37-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown to set up Gibbs' third score.

Gibbs had seven catches for 77 yards and 43 yards rushing on 12 carries. Williams had seven catches for the second straight game and finished with 96 yards. St. Brown, who had been listed as questionable with an ankle injury, left no doubt of his value with six catches for 92 yards and a lot of key blocks for teammates.

Detroit's Al-Quadin Muhammad had a career-high three sacks and Jack Campbell had a sack and forced a fumble for a team that hadn't been generating much pressure on quarterbacks.

Dak Prescott wished that trend continued.

Prescott was sacked five times and pressured many more times as he was 31 of 47 for 376 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He lost his top target in the third quarter when CeeDee Lamb suffered a concussion after he had six catches for 121 yards.

The 30-year-old Aubrey converted from 63, 57 and 55 yards to become the first NFL kicker to make three field goals from 55-plus yards in a game, according to Sportradar.

Cowboys: Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, CB Trevon Diggs and LT Tyler Guyton were inactive.

Lions: S Brian Branch suffered an ankle injury late in the game. S Thomas Harper, filling in for injured All-Pro Kerby, left the game in the first quarter with a concussion. TE Brock Wright was put on injured reserve earlier in the day and WR/PR Kalif Raymond and S Kerby Joseph were inactive.

Cowboys: Host Minnesota in prime time on Dec. 14.

Lions: Visit Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 14.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ceedee Lamb (88) attempts a catch in front of Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) is stopped short of the goal line by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell, not visible, during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) runs for a touchdown while Dallas Cowboys running back Malik Davis (34) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs the ball as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jr. Kenneth Murray (59) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)