What is the plan for immigration enforcement in New Orleans and Minneapolis?
By Easton Martin | December 3, 2025
Federal immigration authorities launched a major enforcement effort in New Orleans on Wednesday while preparing a parallel operation in Minnesota that community leaders say will focus on Somali residents. The twin actions mark the latest intensified nationwide drive to arrest and remove noncitizens with criminal records.
In New Orleans, Department of Homeland Security personnel and Border Patrol teams began what DHS has described as an intelligence-driven operation aimed at detaining undocumented immigrants accused of violent crimes, including home invasion, armed robbery and sexual assault.
Officials have said the operation, publicly identified in planning documents as “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” will be led by Border Patrol command staff and could run for weeks into the winter, with a target of thousands of arrests. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has expressed support for the operation and said he expects National Guard reinforcements to assist where needed.
Homeland Security officials defended the operations as targeted efforts to remove individuals who are dangerous.
The deployments come amid a broader federal push that has sent Border Patrol and ICE teams into Democratic-led cities across the country in recent months.
