Border Patrol arrests begin in New Orleans immigration crackdown
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"Operation Catahoula Crunch" officially launched yesterday as Border Patrol agents were spotted in the metro area for the Department of Homeland Security's latest immigration enforcement blitz.
Why it matters: DHS is targeting "5,000 arrests or beyond," spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told CNN.
- Officials did not confirm to Axios how many arrests they've made so far.
The big picture: The move follows weeks of speculation that Border Patrol agents would pivot to New Orleans after similar federal surges in Chicago and Charlotte.
- The Trump administration is also pursuing a crackdown on Somali immigrants in Minneapolis this week.
The latest: The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging a Louisiana law that requires local law enforcement cooperation and bans "interference" with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
- The law is often cited by Attorney General Liz Murrill, who maintained in a statement yesterday that "individuals who interfere with ICE, Border Patrol, or assault law enforcement are committing a state crime and will be prosecuted."
Meanwhile, the New Orleans City Council launched an online portal for citizens to report potential abuse from federal immigration officers.
- It includes information about your rights when interacting with law enforcement.
Zoom in: In a press release, on social media and in interviews yesterday, DHS officials said the crackdown focuses on people with criminal records previously released by New Orleans law enforcement.
Reality check: Similar surges in other cities have swept up hundreds of people without criminal records, reports say.
Between the lines: Federal consent rulings have long barred both the New Orleans Police Department and the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office from supporting federal immigration enforcement.
- NOPD's consent decree ended about two weeks ago, though chief Anne Kirkpatrick has said her department will not assist in immigration efforts because they are issues of civil rather than criminal law.
- Murrill is pursuing an end to the OPSO judgement.
- Suburban law enforcement agencies, such as those in Kenner and Gretna, however, have assisted in immigration efforts, including as recently as last week.