NEW ORLEANS, La., Dec. 3, 2025 — The DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY has officially launched a new immigration enforcement initiative in the New Orleans region, focusing on individuals described by federal officials as “criminal illegal aliens” who were previously arrested in the area and later released from local custody. The operation, formally named Operation Catahoula Crunch, is part of an effort DHS says is aimed at locating and detaining individuals who are in the country unlawfully and also have significant criminal histories.
According to the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, the operation was initiated in response to the longstanding sanctuary policy of the ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, which restricts cooperation with federal immigration detainer requests. Under this policy, individuals arrested on charges as serious as home invasion, armed robbery, rape, and grand theft auto were released from Orleans Parish custody rather than held for federal pickup. DHS highlighted these cases directly in its announcement as justification for the federal action.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued an on-record statement outlining DHS’s position on the operation and the policy that prompted it. She said:
“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.”
Federal officials emphasized that Operation Catahoula Crunch is directed specifically at individuals whose profiles include both a criminal record and unresolved immigration status, not at immigrant communities more broadly.
State leadership in Louisiana has backed the federal action. Governor Jeff Landry publicly welcomed the operation, expressing support for DHS’s approach and arguing that enforcing immigration law is necessary for public safety. Louisiana’s Attorney General has also opposed the Orleans Parish sanctuary policy and has called for its removal, citing risks associated with releasing individuals who would otherwise be reviewed by federal authorities.
Local officials in New Orleans took a different posture. City leaders stated that municipal government has no role in carrying out immigration enforcement, and the NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT clarified that its officers will not participate in federal immigration arrests or investigations. NOPD noted that its involvement will be limited strictly to maintaining public safety during any federal activity occurring within the city.
With Operation Catahoula Crunch now underway, the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY has not released estimates regarding potential arrests, personnel totals, timelines, or expected duration. Federal authorities stated that further updates will come directly from DHS as the operation progresses and as cases involving individuals with criminal histories are reviewed.
For residents in New Orleans and surrounding parishes, the launch means an increased federal enforcement presence, a separation between federal and local responsibilities, and an initiative narrowly defined by DHS as targeting individuals who meet specific criminal and immigration criteria rather than broader or community-based actions.
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Primary First-Hand Sources
- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
- Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin
- ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE (referenced policy)
- Governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry
- Louisiana Attorney General
- NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Appalachian Post 
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