In the early hours of Wednesday, a new phase of a federal immigration crackdown commenced in New Orleans. This initiative, which aligns with similar actions taken in other cities across the United States, has been described by a Homeland Security official as focusing on apprehending violent offenders.

According to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security, the operation’s primary goal is to detain immigrants who have been previously released after being arrested for serious crimes such as home invasion, armed robbery, and rape. This effort reflects the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to enhance public safety through targeted immigration enforcement.

While specific details regarding the number of agents involved in this operation have not been disclosed, it is clear that Louisiana has been preparing for this enforcement action for several weeks. Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, has expressed his support for the crackdown, indicating a statewide readiness to collaborate with federal efforts.

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.

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