Federal Immigration Operation Begins in New Orleans: ‘Operation Catahoula Crunch’

December 3, 2025 – NEW ORLEANS: Federal authorities on Wednesday began a large-scale immigration enforcement initiative across southeast Louisiana, launching an operation known as “Catahoula Crunch,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The operation involves more than 200 federal agents and is led by Gregory Bovino, a senior Customs and Border Protection official. DHS says the effort is focused on people in the New Orleans area who are in the country unlawfully and have pending or past criminal charges.

Agents conducted multiple enforcement actions on the first day.  that federal officers deta

One video shows at least one person arrested by CBP in a retail parking lot near a Burlington store in Kemmer.

In another incident outside New Orleans, agents were seen removing workers from the roof of a house during a separate operation in Kenner Louisiana.

Later in the day, Commander Bovino was seen walking with agents through parts of the French Quarter as teams circulated in unmarked vehicles across Louisiana.

The initiative follows recent changes in Louisiana state law requiring greater cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities. New Orleans’ jail, operating under a federal consent decree, generally does not honor ICE detainers, a policy federal officials have criticized.