A new round of immigration enforcement has begun in New Orleans, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.
On Dec. 3, the department announced “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” describing it as an effort to “target criminal aliens roaming free.” It cited New Orleans’ sanctuary policies, which restrict local authorities from honoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests for individuals arrested on other charges.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said those targeted in the Louisiana city include people who had been released after arrests for crimes such as home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape.
The announcement included photos and a list of 10 illegal immigrants—originally from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, and Vietnam—whom the agency said were arrested for various offenses in New Orleans and subsequently released….