Children walk home from KIPP East Community Primary School in New Orleans East on Nov. 18, 2025. (Photo by Christiana Botic / Verite News and Catchlight Local/Report for America)
NEW ORLEANS — On the afternoon of Sept. 22, a text thread on Jennie Moctezuma’s phone started flooding with messages after federal immigration authorities appeared near KIPP East Community Primary School in New Orleans East, according to eye witnesses and school administrators.
The messages — sent between members of local immigrant-led civil rights group Unión Migrante — said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were spotted at the end of the street where cars lined up to collect children leaving the school during dismissal…