Federal Immigration Officers Shift from Louisiana to Minneapolis Amid Protests

Sat Jan 10 2026 09:28:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The federal immigration agency has decided to withdraw officers from a controversial crackdown in Louisiana in favor of a more expansive operation in Minneapolis, signaling a significant change in enforcement strategy.

In an unexpected shift, federal immigration officers are withdrawing from a highly publicized crackdown in Louisiana, known as 'Catahoula Crunch,' and transitioning to Minneapolis. The move, which comes amidst protests in New Orleans and an intensified immigration enforcement campaign in Minnesota, has raised questions about the future of immigration policy and its impact on communities. The 'Catahoula Crunch' aimed for substantial arrests but faced significant backlash from local leaders and immigrant communities. As the operation concludes, concerns continue regarding the conduct of officers and the targeting of specific community members.

NEW ORLEANS - Federal immigration officers are pulling out of a Louisiana crackdown and heading to Minneapolis in an abrupt pivot from an operation that drew protests around New Orleans and aimed to make thousands of arrests, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

The shift appeared to signal a wind down of the Louisiana deployment dubbed 'Catahoula Crunch,' which began in December with the arrival of over 200 officers. This operation had been expected to last into February and rapidly raised fears in immigrant communities.

The Trump administration has been surging thousands of federal officers to Minnesota, linked to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents, as part of what the Department of Homeland Security has described as the largest immigration enforcement operation ever undertaken. More than 2,000 officers are involved.

Minneapolis has recently seen demonstrations and anger following a tragic incident where an ICE officer fatally shot a woman. Federal documents indicate that immigration officers from Louisiana were continuing to depart for Minneapolis as late as this week.

'For the safety of our law enforcement, we do not disclose operational details while they are underway,' DHS stated in response to queries about the operational shift.

In December, the Louisiana deployment aimed for about 5,000 arrests, but as of mid-December, only around 370 arrests had been made. Critics argue that this operation significantly impacted immigrant communities, especially in areas like Kenner, resulting in closures of immigrant-run businesses due to fears of harassment.

New Orleans’ Democratic leaders expressed criticism toward the deployment’s objectives, emphasizing the unrealistic targets set by the operation and raising concerns about the aggressiveness of federal officers.

The National Guard’s presence, requested by Louisiana's Republican Governor Jeff Landry following a deadly incident on Bourbon Street, has drawn a more supportive response from local leaders.

The withdrawal of ICE officers from Louisiana and their focus on Minnesota highlights the complexities and changing dynamics of immigration enforcement in the United States amid a backdrop of ongoing protests and community fears.