The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that New Orleans will be the next U.S. city targeted in a federal crackdown on criminal illegal immigrants, following recent enforcement operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, as reported [1] by the New York Post.
The initiative, titled “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” was detailed in a DHS statement and comes one day after the New York Times reported a separate Immigration and Customs Enforcement plan to target Somali illegal immigrants in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
OPERATION CATAHOULA CRUNCH.
DHS law enforcement has been surged to New Orleans, Louisiana, to target the violent criminal illegal alien that sanctuary politicians have allowed to roam free.@POTUS [2] Trump and @Sec_Noem [3] WILL NEVER stop making America safe again.
@TriciaOhio [4] pic.twitter.com/E9IRpAUDIN [5]— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) December 3, 2025 [6]
“Sanctuary policies endanger American communities by releasing illegal criminal aliens and forcing DHS law enforcement to risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens that should have never been put back on the streets,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said.
“It is asinine that these monsters were released back onto New Orleans streets to COMMIT MORE CRIMES and create more victims. Catahoula Crunch targets include violent criminals who were released after arrest for home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are restoring law and order for the American people.”
The agency released a roster listing 10 individuals who were arrested for crimes such as aggravated assault, burglary, child endangerment, sexual battery, and other offenses, but were subsequently released from local custody. Those named originate from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Mexico, and Vietnam.
CBS News first reported in mid-November that approximately 200 Border Patrol agents would be sent to conduct the operation. DHS did not confirm the final number on Wednesday but said enforcement preparations are underway.
At a Tuesday Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump said New Orleans would also receive additional support from the National Guard. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry formally requested federal assistance earlier this year.
