The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday that New Orleans will be the next city swept for criminal illegal immigrants — following similar crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte, NC.
The announcement of “Operation Catahoula Crunch” comes one day after the New York Times reported that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will launch a separate operation targeting Somali illegal immigrants residing in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
“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 in a statement.
The DHS announced that New Orleans will be the next city swept for criminal illegal immigrants. OLGA FEDOROVA/EPA/Shutterstock
A sign listing legal rights and bearing a “Say No To ICE” message is posted on an electricity pole in New Orleans. AFP via Getty Images
“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 [Kristi] Noem, we are restoring law and order for the American people.”
Wednesday’s announcement was accompanied by a roster of 10 illegal migrants released from local jails after their arrests for crimes including aggravated assault, burglary, child endangerment, and sexual battery.
The alleged offenders hail from countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Jordan, Mexico, and Vietnam.
CBS News, which first reported on plans for the New Orleans operation in mid-November, said that around 200 Border Patrol agents would carry out the sweep.
During a cabinet meeting Tuesday, Trump announced that the Crescent City will soon receive an influx of National Guard troops to help keep order following a request by Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry.
“Gov. Landry — a great guy, a great governor — he’s asked for help in New Orleans. And we’re going to go there in a couple of weeks,” Trump told reporters.
Landry, who requested up to 1,000 troops to fight crime in September, told reporters Monday he expected Guard members to arrive in New Orleans by Christmas.
That would mean a visible troop presence during the city’s busiest period for tourism, which will include the annual Sugar Bowl college football game on New Year’s Day and culminate with Mardi Gras celebrations ending Feb. 17.
Jan. 1 will mark the anniversary of an ISIS-inspired truck attack by Shamsud-Din Jabbar that killed 14 people and wounded 57 others on the city’s iconic Bourbon Street as New Year’s Eve celebrations were winding down.
In 2022, New Orleans had the dubious distinction of being considered the “murder capital of the country,” with a homicide rate of 70 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Three years later, however, the city is still on pace to have its lowest number of murders in nearly 50 years, according to crime data from the police department, which had reported 97 murders as of early November.