Let me tell you about the time I worked construction summers during college south of San Antonio. 2014, hot as Satan's armpit, mixing concrete alongside guys who taught me curse words in three languages. When the immigration vans rolled up one Thursday, I watched grown men scatter like dropped Legos. Boss man shoved cash into palms and hissed run. That memory came screaming back this week watching sniper scopes trained on roofers in a New Orleans suburb like we're in some banana republic coup attempt.

Operation Catahoula Crunch? Honey, Ive heard better names for failed hair metal bands. Homeland Security called their immigration sweep after a dog breed known for being territorial and tough. Which tracks, because this entire theater smells like a poorly trained pooch marking its territory. Armed agents descending on neighborhoods, families sleeping in restaurants, workers corralled like cattle over misdemeanors from the Bush administration.

The administration insists theyre targeting criminals. Commander Greg Bovino struts around armored like Robocop visiting a warzone promising to nab the worst of the worst. Quick question, what exactly makes New Orleans the Beirut of illegal immigration? Last I checked, our biggest threats were potholes deep enough to swallow Mini Coopers and tourists drunkenly trying to pet police horses.

Heres where the math gets messy. Leaked stats from previous sweeps in Chicago and Baltimore showed over 70% of arrests involved people with no criminal records. Here in New Orleans, City Council President JP Morrell flat called BS on the notion theyd find 5,000 violent offenders because honey, even our murderers have better cocktail recipes than that.

Abigail's family restaurant story wrecked me. Her parents built that business over twenty years. Now they sleep between tortilla presses because apparently contributing to the economy makes you a public menace. Pew Research estimates 14 million undocumented folks nationwide. If theyre such violent predators, why are they too scared to walk to Walmart?

Sanctuary city debates get framed like some moral failing, but lets get real. Local cops refusing to play ICE agent makes practical sense. You think victims of domestic violence will report crimes if they think calling 911 gets them deported? You think witnesses cooperate when deportation vans block their driveways? This is Security 101 stuff, people.

Remember 2018 when Trump administration officials admitted family separation policies were deliberately cruel to deter migration? Same playbook different chapter. Turning Border Patrol into theater troops with sniper rifles for roofing contractors isn't about safety. It's political pageantry with human collateral damage.

The hypocrisy burns hotter than Tabasco. Administration talking points claim undocumented immigrants drain resources, but who do they think paid Abigail's parents sales taxes all these years? Who rebuilds after hurricanes when insurance companies ghost us? Non payment of taxes? Please. IRS estimates undocumented workers contribute $13 billion annually to Social Security they'll never collect.

Meanwhile real threats walk free. Remember that sweetheart deal Epstein got? Or Paul Manafort's home detention luxury suite? But sure, let's assemble a tactical unit to arrest Jose for that 2009 traffic ticket. The selective outrage smells fishier than a Bourbon Street gutter at 3am.

Heres what no one's saying. This kabuki theater hurts actual law enforcement. When communities see Border Patrol as potential kidnappers rather than protectors, crimes go unreported. Gangs flourish. Real criminals slip through the net. Its self sabotage with government paychecks.

Saw a viral clip of some commentator screaming why don't they come legally. Let me tell you about my college roommate Maria. Her engineer dad applied legally from Mexico. Waited 14 years for approval, missed her childhood. Current employment based backlog? Over 1.2 million applications. Average wait 5 years minimum unless youre already wealthy or famous. The system is broken intentionally.

Does America need immigration reform. God yes. Been saying that since Bush tried comprehensive reform in 2006. But treating humans like piñatas for political points hurts everyone. Undocumented folks can't vote, they're easy scapegoats. Distract from real problems like Big Pharma price gouging or housing costs rocketing into orbit.

The resilience in New Orleans gives me life. Neighbors forming human shields around work sites. Lawyers volunteering at taquerias. Churches opening basements as sanctuaries. Thats America, baby. Not masked agents playing soldier in suburbs.

Bottom line. Either we respect due process for everyone, or we don't believe in it at all. If you support the Fourth Amendment unless the person sneezed in Spanish, you don't support the Constitution. You support vibes.

These sweeps accomplish nothing except headlines. If we actually wanted safer communities, we'd fund mental health services, addiction treatment and after school programs. But that doesn't play well on Fox News at 8pm.

Next time someone moans about illegal immigration ask them two questions. First, what exact policy would you change? Second, pass the salsa verde. Because we both know these folks power our farms, kitchens and construction sites while pundits clutch pearls on cable news.

In the immortal words of New Orleans legend Mahalia Jackson, we take one step forward and two steps back, but the Lord promised victory if we keep walking. Might I suggest walking straight to a ballot box with clear eyes and a full heart.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm ordering extra guacamole from Abigail's tonight. Solidarity comes with free chips, yall.