Trump Administration Launches Immigration Crackdown in New Orleans

U.S. immigration officials have launched an operation in New Orleans aimed at arresting immigrants living in the country illegally, according to federal authorities. The effort, announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is focused on targeting individuals with criminal records who had been released from local custody due to city policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. This initiative is part of a broader nationwide crackdown ordered by former President Donald Trump, targeting Democratic-led cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., to increase deportations.

The operation has sparked concern among residents and local officials, who argue that the enforcement actions have swept up many individuals without criminal histories and involved aggressive tactics that may put communities at risk. In New Orleans, the operation is expected to continue through the end of the year, although federal authorities have not fully detailed its scope. Trump indicated during a Cabinet meeting that the National Guard could be deployed to the city in the coming weeks to support the crackdown.

Local residents are taking precautions to avoid profiling or detention. In one family-owned restaurant, a woman set up temporary sleeping arrangements for family members who commute between home and work, fearing they could be stopped by federal agents. The operation follows the termination of a 2013 consent decree last month, which had previously restricted the New Orleans Police Department from assisting federal immigration authorities. Despite this, Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated in late November that the city would not enforce federal immigration laws.

The Department of Justice has previously labeled New Orleans a “sanctuary city,” highlighting its policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. With a population of approximately 384,000, New Orleans is now the latest city to experience this federal operation, following a similar Border Patrol-led action in Charlotte, North Carolina. The crackdown underscores ongoing tensions between federal immigration priorities and local policies aimed at protecting immigrant communities.