DHS ROLLS OUT ‘OPERATION CATAHOULA CRUNCH’ FOR IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN IN NEW ORLEANS

In response, Murrill sent a letter to the head of the New Orleans Police Department, warning Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick that some NOPD policies “appear” to conflict with state laws prohibiting sanctuary policies that extend certain protections to residents without legal status.

The NOPD “must use best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,” Murrill wrote, and abandon policies “specifically designed and implemented to frustrate, hinder, and prevent cooperation” with ICE. 

“At this time, I recommend that you immediately direct NOPD officers and staff to fully cooperate with ICE and CPB,” the attorney general told Kirkpatrick. “Every law enforcement officer in this state has a duty to support all duly enacted federal and state laws for the benefit of the communities we serve.” 

Murrill added a warning of possible penalties to follow if NOPD failed to heed the attorney general’s office: “Policies that fundamentally require officers and employees to refuse to cooperate with ICE, except in very limited circumstances, violate Louisiana law and could subject the offender to felony prosecution or malfeasance in office.”

New Orleans is the latest city to see federal sweeps targeting illegal immigrants. The Trump administration had previously authorized operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Charlotte, North Carolina, and elsewhere.

Similar to operations in those cities, President Donald Trump has promised to send National Guard troops to provide additional support and protection for ICE and CBP agents. 

Trump said Tuesday the state’s Republican governor had requested assistance from the National Guard. Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) said Monday that Trump had promised the troops would arrive before Christmas. 

The military will deploy to New Orleans and other cities to discourage “violent crime“ that is “causing citizens not to feel safe in their communities,” the governor said. Landry had previously sent a request to the Pentagon in September, requesting that Louisiana’s National Guard be authorized to deploy across the state. 

“Louisiana currently faces a convergence of elevated violent crime rates in Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, coupled with critical personnel shortages within local law enforcement,” Landry wrote in a letter to War Secretary Pete Hegseth. “The proposed mission and scope for the Louisiana National Guard would be to deploy throughout the state to urban centers, supplement law enforcement presence in high crime areas, provide logistical and communication support, and secure critical infrastructure.” 

LOUISIANA ONLINE CHILD ABUSE TIPS UP 1,200% IN 10 YEARS

In New Orleans, the Trump administration is aiming to make 5,000 arrests during its latest sweep, a target number questioned by critics.

“There is no rational basis that a sweep of New Orleans, or the surrounding parishes, would ever yield anywhere near 5,000 criminals, let alone ones that are considered ‘violent’ by any definition,” New Orleans City Council President JP Morrell said Thursday.