Across two continents and thousands of miles, a wave of immigration crackdowns is reshaping the lives of residents—both documented and undocumented—in Punjab, Pakistan, and New Orleans, Louisiana. While the details differ, the core issues of legality, security, and human dignity unite the stories, sparking heated debate and uncertainty for many communities.
In Punjab, Pakistan, authorities have ramped up efforts to identify and deport illegal foreign residents. According to Dunya News, as of December 6, 2025, more than 31,000 individuals—including Afghans and other foreign nationals—have been deported from various districts, with Lahore among the most affected areas. The campaign, officials say, will continue until every illegal resident is processed according to the law.
The scale of the operation is striking. Police figures show that among the 31,000 deportees, there are 11,362 men, 6,426 women, and a staggering 19,366 children. The diversity of documentation—or lack thereof—paints a complex picture: 9,931 had some form of residency proof, 11,064 held Afghan Citizen Cards, and 10,016 were completely undocumented. As of this week, 165 individuals without legal residency remain in holding centers, awaiting completion of formal procedures.
To manage the flow, authorities have established five holding centers in Lahore and a total of 46 across Punjab. These centers serve as hubs for documentation, verification, and screening before deportation. The Punjab Police stress that the campaign is being conducted in an organized manner, with families receiving necessary support while legal formalities are carried out. "The operation will continue until all illegal residents are identified and processed according to the law," a police spokesperson told Dunya News, underscoring the province's determination to see the campaign through.
Meanwhile, across the globe in New Orleans, a different kind of immigration enforcement is underway, one that has triggered fear and controversy. On December 3, 2025, a federal immigration crackdown began in Southeast Louisiana, targeting 5,000 individuals. The Associated Press reports that several hundred Border Patrol agents, under the command of Gregory Bovino, have converged on the region as part of the operation. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has touted dozens of arrests, but has released only limited details, fueling anxiety and suspicion among local residents—especially within the Hispanic community.
The crackdown quickly became a flashpoint when Jacelynn Guzman, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen, was chased by masked federal agents near her home in Marrero, a neighborhood just across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans. According to security footage obtained by the Associated Press, Guzman was walking home from the grocery store when a truck pulled up beside her and two masked agents approached. Panicked, she ran, pursued by the agents until she reached her family’s home. Guzman, who has no criminal record, later recalled, "That was my only thought that they were going to take me and I wasn’t going to get to have a say in that decision. Because most likely they didn’t care that I was saying I was a U.S. citizen. So why would they care what else I had to say?"
The incident, which was captured on video, sparked public outrage and drew sharp criticism from New Orleans officials. Mayor-elect Helena Moreno expressed "deep concern over recent actions" by federal agents, arguing that the operation is causing real harm—forcing businesses to close and workers to stay home out of fear of mass arrests. Moreno, alongside Democratic Congressman Troy Carter, Hispanic leaders, and civil rights advocates, called for greater transparency from federal authorities. "Without this full visibility into these enforcement actions, it is impossible to determine whether this particular operation is actually targeting the most dangerous offenders," Moreno said.
Federal officials have repeatedly stated that the goal is to target dangerous criminals who entered the country illegally. In response to the Guzman incident, DHS said Border Patrol agents were searching for a "criminal illegal alien previously charged with felony theft and convicted of illegal possession of stolen property." The agency insists that the agents "identified themselves" and left once they realized Guzman was not their target. But Guzman’s stepfather, Juan Anglin, disputed the government’s account and expressed his family’s fear. "I thought she was going to be kidnapped, honestly," he told the Associated Press. "I thought somebody was going to hurt her." Anglin further criticized the agents' tactics, saying, "Just because you look brown, you look Hispanic, you’re going to get stopped. Because now it doesn’t matter if you have papers, you speak English or you are a citizen, it’s not enough."
The impact of the operation has rippled through the community. Many Hispanic residents now say they feel at risk of being abused or detained by agents, regardless of their legal status. The fear is not unfounded, as the operation has already caused some businesses to shutter and workers to stay home. City officials are pushing back, demanding regular public briefings from federal agencies, including data on stops, detentions, charges, warrants, outcomes, and the criminal histories of those detained. For now, though, those details remain largely out of public view.
Back in Punjab, the authorities continue their campaign with a focus on process and scale. The establishment of 46 holding centers across the province is a testament to the logistical challenge. Police maintain that families receive necessary support during legal formalities, and the operation is being conducted in an organized manner. Yet, the sheer numbers—over 31,000 deported, with thousands of children among them—raise questions about the long-term effects on communities and the individuals involved.
Both cases—Punjab’s sweeping deportations and New Orleans’ aggressive enforcement—highlight the tension between law enforcement and civil liberties. In Pakistan, the emphasis is on documentation and legality, with a promise that the operation will continue until every illegal resident is identified. In Louisiana, the stated aim is to remove dangerous criminals, but the reality on the ground has left many feeling vulnerable, regardless of their status.
These crackdowns are not occurring in isolation. They are part of a global trend in which governments, facing domestic pressures and complex migration patterns, are turning to increasingly forceful measures. The challenge, as these cases show, is balancing the imperatives of law and order with the rights and dignity of individuals—especially those who may be caught up in enforcement actions through no fault of their own.
For now, the operations continue—one in the bustling cities of Punjab, the other in the vibrant neighborhoods of New Orleans—each raising urgent questions about security, justice, and the meaning of belonging in a world where borders are both real and deeply personal.
