In brief
On Wednesday, a federal immigration crackdown commenced in New Orleans, focusing on apprehending immigrants who were previously released after committing violent crimes. This initiative, supported by Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and the Trump administration, seeks to address what officials describe as the dangers of sanctuary policies that allow criminal aliens to remain in communities. The operation aligns with similar enforcement actions previously taken in major U.S. cities, furthering local and national immigration enforcement strategies.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal immigration crackdown began Wednesday in New Orleans under an operation that a Homeland Security official said would target violent criminals, expanding the Trump administration’s sweeps that have unfolded in other U.S. cities.The aim of the operation is to capture immigrants who were released after their arrests for crimes such as home invasion, armed robbery and rape, Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.She did not say how many agents would be deployed under the operation. Louisiana has been preparing for weeks for an immigration crackdown that Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has said he would welcome.“Sanctuary policies endanger American communities by releasing illegal criminal aliens and forcing DHS law enforcement to risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens that should have never been put back on the streets,” McLaughlin said.The Trump administration also launched immigration crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina. Landry is a close Trump ally who has moved to align state policy with the White House’s enforcement agenda.
