In a significant and abrupt shift in US immigration enforcement strategy, federal officers have been pulled out of a major operation in Louisiana and redeployed to Minneapolis. The move marks a sudden pivot from the controversial "Catahoula Crunch" crackdown that targeted thousands of arrests around New Orleans.
The Louisiana Operation Winds Down
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is ending its Louisiana deployment early to send resources north. The operation, which began in December with the arrival of more than 200 federal officers, was initially expected to last into February. Led by Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino—known for aggressive operations in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles—the sweep aimed for a staggering 5,000 arrests.
However, by 18 December, the operation had resulted in approximately 370 arrests. Documents reviewed earlier by the AP revealed that a majority of those detained in the initial days lacked criminal records. The deployment drew fierce protests in New Orleans and sparked fear within immigrant communities, with authorities even monitoring online criticism of the action.
Minneapolis: The New Focus of Immigration Crackdown
The officers from Louisiana are now joining a massive, ongoing operation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trump administration has surged more than 2,000 officers to the area in what DHS calls the largest immigration enforcement operation ever. This crackdown is tied partly to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.
The Minneapolis deployment has been met with significant public anger, particularly after an officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fatally shot a woman on Wednesday. The city's mayor has accused federal authorities of "hiding facts" surrounding the killing. DHS, when questioned about the redeployment, stated it does not disclose operational details for officer safety.
Community Impact and Political Divisions
The "Catahoula Crunch" had a profound effect on life in and around New Orleans. In the Latino enclave of Kenner, many immigrant-run businesses closed temporarily to protect customers from potential racial profiling, regardless of their legal status. Carmela Diaz, a US citizen from El Salvador, kept her taco restaurant, Taqueria La Conquistadora, shuttered for over a month. "I'm going to wait and see this week," she said. "I have a lot of clients who want to eat here."
The operation highlighted deep political divides. Louisiana's Republican governor, Jeff Landry, welcomed the federal action. In contrast, New Orleans's Democratic leaders criticised the 5,000-arrest target as unrealistic and condemned videos showing agents' tactics, including one of a US citizen being chased by masked men. These same local officials have been more receptive to a National Guard deployment authorised by Donald Trump at Landry's request to combat crime.
This rapid redeployment underscores the scale and shifting priorities of US federal immigration enforcement under the current administration, moving resources between flashpoints as political and operational demands evolve.
