Federal immigration authorities have launched a sweeping enforcement push in New Orleans and Minneapolis, broadening the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown in cities with policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration officials.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Wednesday that the New Orleans operation—officially named “Catahoula Crunch”—is aimed at locating immigrants who were released after arrests for violent offenses, including home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto and rape. According to DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, the initiative targets “violent criminals” and accused local “sanctuary” policies of keeping federal agents from taking custody of people they believe should have been detained.
Officials have not disclosed how many agents are being sent, though earlier planning documents indicated DHS sought to deploy around 200 Border Patrol personnel and requested armored vehicles. Two U.S. officials confirmed the agency has asked the Defense Department for permission to use Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans as a staging site. The FBI’s New Orleans office said it will work with Louisiana State Police to help protect deployed immigration agents and prevent interference with their enforcement activities.
New Orleans is one of several Democratic-led cities to see similar federal deployments; the administration has already carried out operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte. Despite the stated focus on “the worst of the worst,” past sweeps have drawn scrutiny. In Chicago, for example, Justice Department records show that out of more than 600 people detained during a previous blitz, only 16 had prior criminal convictions.
Local officials and community groups in New Orleans expressed concern about the scale and impact of the operation. Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said she had reviewed reports of due-process issues in other cities and created a tool for residents to report questionable encounters with agents. “My first priority is to keep our community safe,” she said, noting the need to ensure residents know their rights.
In Minneapolis, federal officials also began a crackdown. A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that ICE agents are not specifically targeting Somali immigrants, though some may be arrested if authorities allege immigration violations. The administration has paused immigration applications from 19 countries, including Somalia.
With federal agents now active in New Orleans and Minneapolis, the administration’s immigration campaign continues to expand well beyond the U.S.–Mexico border, intensifying tensions in cities where local officials and community advocates remain wary of federal overreach.
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