DHS Launches Secretive ‘Operation Catahoula Crunch’ in New Orleans — Local Police Say They Weren’t Told
New Orleans — Federal immigration agents have begun a new enforcement push in the city as the Department of Homeland Security launches Operation Catahoula Crunch, a crackdown aimed at undocumented immigrants with alleged serious criminal histories. According to Reuters, DHS officials say the effort targets individuals previously arrested on charges such as home invasion, armed robbery, and rape.
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The operation follows months of planning and mirrors earlier sweeps in cities including Chicago and Charlotte. Prior internal federal documents indicated DHS expected to deploy between 200 and 250 Border Patrol agents to Louisiana and projected as many as 5,000 arrests across southeast Louisiana and parts of Mississippi. However, Reuters now reports that it remains “unclear how extensive” the operation will be as it begins, and DHS has not released any arrest totals.
Local reaction has been mixed, with signs of fear among immigrant residents. Reporting from the Washington Post describes some businesses posting “ICE not welcome” signs and a few closing early, though coverage does not indicate a widespread shutdown across the city. Immigrant-rights groups have begun circulating legal resources and monitoring federal activity, and local radio station WWNO reported street demonstrations ahead of the enforcement action.
New Orleans Police Department officials say they received no direct advance notice from federal authorities and will not participate in immigration arrests, leaving the operation solely in federal hands.
As the crackdown begins, many questions remain — especially regarding the scale and duration of the effort. Without public arrest numbers or detailed DHS briefings, residents and community organizations are bracing for developments in the coming days as the federal presence becomes more visible across the city.