Headline: Federal Agents Arrest Cameroonian National Days Before Graduation from New Orleans Police Academy
Deep Search
Federal authorities have apprehended Larry Temah, a 46-year-old national from Cameroon, just days before he was scheduled to graduate as a police officer in New Orleans, a jurisdiction often cited for its sanctuary policies. Investigating the specific claims referenced in the social media report, verified details confirm that Temah was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on January 28, 2026. While initial social media circulation may have truncated the location, the incident occurred within the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) recruitment pipeline.
Temah originally entered the United States legally on a visitor’s visa in 2015 and obtained conditional residency in 2016 through marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, federal officials report that his application for permanent residency was denied in 2022 due to fraud. Following his failure to appear for multiple immigration court hearings, an immigration judge ordered his removal in absentia. Despite this active deportation order, Temah successfully entered the NOPD training academy and was “on the cusp” of receiving his badge and gun before federal intervention.
Objections
The incident has ignited fierce debate regarding the vetting processes in sanctuary jurisdictions. Critics argue that sanctuary policies, which often limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, create dangerous blind spots that allow individuals with active deportation orders to infiltrate positions of public trust. Security analysts have raised objections regarding the thoroughness of the NOPD’s background checks, questioning how a candidate with a federal removal order and a history of visa fraud could clear the rigorous screening required for law enforcement. Conversely, supporters of broader inclusion in policing argue that recruitment shortages necessitate widening the applicant pool, though few defend the hiring of individuals with active removal orders. Legal experts emphasize that while legal permanent residents can serve in some jurisdictions, employing a national who is actively in violation of federal immigration law constitutes a severe breach of public safety protocols.
Background Info
This arrest fits into a developing pattern of similar cases that have drawn national attention to the intersection of immigration status and law enforcement employment. It closely follows the high-profile arrest of Radule Bojovic, a national of Montenegro, who was discovered working as a sworn officer in Hanover Park, Illinois—another sanctuary jurisdiction—despite being in the country illegally for over a decade.
In the case of Temah, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that he had ignored three separate orders to appear in court before his arrest. The New Orleans Police Department has faced scrutiny over its recruitment standards amid a chronic staffing crisis, which has led to increased pressure to fill academy classes. Federal law generally prohibits “illegal aliens” from possessing firearms, meaning Temah’s prospective graduation would have placed him in immediate violation of federal weapons charges the moment he was issued his service weapon.
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