New Orleans — For 18-year-old Jonathan Escalante, a typical Monday turned into a nightmare when his mother, 38-year-old Vilma Cruz, called him in distress. She told him that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents had pulled up behind her car in Kenner, Louisiana. When he asked her what was happening, all he heard was her voice, saying in Spanish, “I didn’t do anything to you, sir,” before the call abruptly ended.
A relative on the phone heard ICE agents demanding that Cruz open the door. Moments later, the window shattered, and the line went silent. Cruz, who came from Honduras and had lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades, had been avoiding work for weeks due to increased immigration actions in the area. Just the night before, the family debated whether she should take a painting job.
“We all agreed she shouldn’t go out,” Escalante shared, explaining that recent raids made everyone anxious.
Cruz’s arrest was part of an operation named “Catahoula Crunch,” which targets “criminal illegal aliens.” Escalante doesn’t know his mother’s immigration status, but he doubted she was a citizen. He also stated he wasn’t aware of any crimes she may have committed.
ICE did not respond to inquiries about Cruz’s case or the reasons for her apprehension.
Now, Escalante finds himself as the main caregiver for his 9-year-old sister, something he never expected. Unlike their mother, both siblings are American citizens, but he lives with constant worry about his safety. “I sometimes carry my passport,” he admitted. “I’m afraid ICE might stop me for no reason.”
The fear of detention is real and growing. More than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents this year alone, according to a report from ProPublica. This included Jacelynn Guzman, a U.S. citizen who was chased by ICE agents in New Orleans. “I kept telling them I was a citizen. They didn’t care,” Guzman recounted. “I didn’t know whether to run or stay.”
In response to such incidents, groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) are exploring legal action to halt these detention operations. They’ve even created a GoFundMe to support Cruz’s family during this difficult time. A spokesman noted that Cruz is currently believed to be held in a Mississippi detention facility.
As Escalante waits for updates, he reflects on the call with his mother. “She sounded worried but tried to stay calm,” he recalled, believing she didn’t want him to hear her fear. “She always tries to shield us from her worries about bills and life.”
This situation raises broader questions about immigration policy and civil rights. Public sentiment has shifted markedly, with surveys indicating that a significant number of Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about how these policies affect families and communities. In fact, a 2022 survey found that nearly 60% of people believe immigration should be treated more humanely, indicating a desire for empathy amidst enforcement.
As stories like Cruz’s unfold, they serve as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding immigration actions in the U.S. These are not just statistics; they are real families facing uncertain futures.
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Immigration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, New Orleans
