From 'Catahoula Crunch' to Minneapolis: Federal Immigration Officers Shift Focus
Federal immigration officers have shifted their focus from Louisiana to Minneapolis, leaving behind the operation known as "Catahoula Crunch." The deployment in Louisiana, which aimed to make thousands of arrests, raised concerns in immigrant communities. The officers are now part of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, involving over 2,000 federal officers.
The sudden move to Minneapolis comes after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman, sparking protests and anger in the city. The Department of Homeland Security has not disclosed specific details about the Louisiana deployment ending to send officers to Minnesota. Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, who led the operation in New Orleans, is now involved in the enforcement efforts in Minneapolis.
The initial goal of the "Catahoula Crunch" operation was to make 5,000 arrests, but only about 370 arrests had been made by mid-December. The crackdown heavily targeted the Hispanic community in Kenner, causing immigrant-run businesses to close out of fear of harassment. The majority of those arrested in the early days of the operation did not have criminal records.
While Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry supported the crackdown, Democratic leaders in New Orleans criticized the aggressive tactics used by federal officers. They found the 5,000-arrest target unrealistic and raised concerns about the treatment of residents during the operation. In contrast, they welcomed a National Guard deployment authorized by President Donald Trump to help combat crime in the city.
The shift of federal immigration officers from Louisiana to Minneapolis marks a significant change in enforcement priorities. The operation in Louisiana, known as "Catahoula Crunch," faced backlash and concerns in immigrant communities. The move to Minneapolis comes amid a larger immigration enforcement effort involving thousands of federal officers.