NEW ORLEANS, LA – New Orleans residents gathered Wednesday night to protest ICE conducting immigration enforcement in the city, describing the operation as “a horrifying breach of local norms,” mainly because it involved government officials actually doing something. Protest organizers warned that if ICE successfully enforces federal law, it could set off a dangerous chain reaction where other agencies might feel pressured to follow suit.
“This is a slippery slope,” one protester yelled while waving a sign reading ‘STOP THE SPREAD OF COMPETENCE.’ “First ICE does its job, then maybe NOPD tries it, and before you know it, the Sewerage & Water Board starts fixing things with no boil advisory. We can’t survive that kind of chaos.”
Several attendees said they weren’t even opposed to safety, they were opposed to the precedent. “You let one agency clean up the streets and the whole city starts getting ideas,” another resident shouted. “Next thing you know, someone’s going to expect our elected officials to be accountable. That’s not who we are.”
ICE did not comment, although agents were reportedly confused why the only resistance they encountered was from people who proudly admit they don’t call 911 because “what’s the point?”
City officials did not attend the protest, presumably because the concept of showing up on time might have accidentally encouraged a new era of competence.
