The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Wednesday that federal authorities will begin an enforcement operation named “Catahoula Crunch” in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana to combat crime. The operation is named after the Catahoula Leopard Dog, a breed native to the state.
According to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin, the operation will focus on apprehending “violent criminals released after being arrested for crimes such as home invasions, armed robberies, car thefts, and rapes.” The statement referenced New Orleans’ sanctuary policy, which limits local authorities from executing detention requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for individuals arrested on other charges.
The announcement included photos and a list of 10 illegal immigrants – hailing from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, and Vietnam – who were arrested for various crimes in New Orleans and subsequently released.
McLaughlin stated, “Sanctuary policies releasing illegal criminal immigrants force DHS law enforcement officers to risk their lives to deport illegal criminal immigrants who should not have been put back on the streets, endangering the safety of American communities.”
She did not specify how many federal agents will be deployed for this operation, nor did she disclose the duration of the operation. It is also unclear which federal agencies are involved, but similar operations are typically led by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commander Gregory Bovino, who has overseen high-profile operations in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Louisiana Governor, Republican Jeff Landry, welcomed the reinforcements of federal agents in the state’s largest city. “New Orleans is a crime-ridden city, and we have been working hard to ensure public safety,” he told Fox News. “I welcome the [federal agents] to come in. We will clear out these dangerous criminals from the streets of Louisiana.”
Helena Moreno, a Democrat who will be inaugurated as mayor in January 2026, criticized recent intensified enforcement actions in New Orleans and other Democrat-run cities. She launched a website guiding the public on how to deal with ICE and CBP personnel.
In a recent statement, Moreno said, “My top priority is to ensure the safety of our community. Reports of procedural violations and potential abuses of power in other cities are concerning. I hope our community residents can understand and be aware of the legal protections afforded to them.”
President Trump stated during a cabinet meeting that the National Guard will be deployed to southern cities, including New Orleans, in the coming weeks.
With a population of approximately 384,000, New Orleans gained notoriety as the “Murder Capital” in 2022 when its murder rate surged, ranking the highest among US cities. According to reports from 2022, the city had a murder rate of 52 per 100,000 residents, surpassing other cities like St. Louis, Chicago, and New York.
On New Year’s Day 2025, a truck driver, a veteran from Texas, plowed into a crowd celebrating New Year’s in downtown New Orleans, resulting in 14 deaths and over 30 injuries. He was later killed in a shootout with police. An Islamic State flag was found in his truck.
Federal immigration officials have previously deployed additional resources to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Charlotte this summer. Democrats have criticized the government’s policies as “radical” and for arresting illegal immigrants with no criminal record.