NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal immigration officers are pulling out of a Louisiana crackdown and heading to Minneapolis in an abrupt pivot from an operation that drew protests around New Orleans and aimed to make thousands of arrests, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.
The shift appeared to signal a wind down of the Louisiana deployment that was dubbed “Catahoula Crunch” and began in December with the arrival of more than 200 officers. The operation had been expected to last into February and swiftly raised fears in immigrant communities.
The Trump administration has been surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota under a sweeping new crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. More than 2,000 officers are taking part in what the Department of Homeland Security has called the biggest immigration enforcement operation ever.
The officers in Minneapolis have been met with demonstrations and anger after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman on Wednesday.
“For the safety of our law enforcement, we do not disclose operational details while they are underway,” DHS stated Friday in response to the changing dynamics between operations in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Originally targeting over 5,000 arrests in Louisiana, the operation called “Catahoula Crunch” faced criticism for its implementation, ultimately resulting in only about 370 arrests. Detained individuals were often residents without substantial criminal backgrounds, drawing further scrutiny.
This transition marks a significant moment as communities react to the evolving immigration enforcement landscape, highlighting regional tensions and the complexities of federal policies under the current administration.
