The redeployment comes as the Department of Homeland Security has surged more than 2,000 officers to Minnesota as part of what DHS has called the largest immigration enforcement operation in the agency’s history — an effort that has drawn demonstrations following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
Federal immigration officers stationed in Louisiana are departing for Minneapolis, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press, in an abrupt pivot from a months-long enforcement sweep that drew protests around New Orleans and had targeted 5,000 arrests.
Documents indicated that officers were continuing to leave Louisiana for Minneapolis late in the week ending Jan. 9. The shift appeared to signal a wind-down of the Louisiana deployment, known as “Catahoula Crunch,” which began in December with more than 200 officers and had been expected to last into February.
The Department of Homeland Security has deployed more than 2,000 officers to Minnesota as part of what it has called the largest immigration enforcement operation in the agency’s history. That operation has been tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents. Officers there have been met with demonstrations and anger following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE officer on Jan. 7.
“For the safety of our law enforcement, we do not disclose operational details while they are underway,” DHS said Friday in response to questions about whether the Louisiana deployment was ending in order to send officers to Minnesota.
Louisiana operation fell far short of its target
Catahoula Crunch began with a target of 5,000 arrests, as first reported by the AP. The operation had resulted in approximately 370 arrests as of Dec. 18, according to DHS.
Documents previously reviewed by the AP showed the majority of people arrested in the operation’s first days lacked criminal records. Those same documents showed that authorities tracked online criticism and protests against the deployment.
Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, who oversaw the Louisiana crackdown and previously led enforcement operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina, has been seen in Minneapolis in recent days, according to the AP.
New Orleans leaders split on the operation
Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry welcomed the crackdown. New Orleans’ Democratic leaders called the 5,000-arrest target unrealistic and criticized videos that showed agents arresting or attempting to detain residents, including footage of a U.S. citizen being chased down the street by masked men near her home.
New Orleans’ Democratic leaders have been more receptive to a separate National Guard deployment that President Donald Trump authorized at Landry’s request to assist with crime. Those troops arrived shortly before the New Year’s Day anniversary of a truck attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people.
Business closures reflect fear in Kenner’s Hispanic enclave
In Kenner, a Hispanic enclave just outside New Orleans, many immigrant-run businesses temporarily closed during the operation. Business owners said they feared customers would be racially profiled by federal officers regardless of their legal status. Some restaurants have since announced they were reopening.
Carmela Diaz, a U.S. citizen born in El Salvador, kept her restaurant Taqueria La Conquistadora in Kenner closed for more than a month. She said she remains concerned that immigration officers could return but is considering resuming business.
“I’m going to wait and see this week,” Diaz said. “I have a lot of clients who want to eat here.”