Border Patrol leads DHS 'Catahoula Crunch' immigration crackdown in New Orleans
The Department of Homeland Security has launched "Operation Catahoula Crunch," a two-month, 250‑agent Border Patrol‑led crackdown in New Orleans and nearby Kenner that DHS says targeted noncitizens with serious criminal histories and resulted in "dozens" of arrests within 24 hours, including charges tied to homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping and robbery. The sweep provoked protests that disrupted a New Orleans City Council meeting and emptied many Hispanic‑owned shops as residents stayed away, drawing divergent local responses — the NOPD said it will not enforce civil immigration law while Louisiana's attorney general warned obstructing ICE is a state crime.
📌 Key Facts
- The Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Catahoula Crunch, a two-month initiative deploying about 250 Border Patrol agents in New Orleans and surrounding areas; PBS and other outlets say Border Patrol, not ICE, is primarily running the operation (protesters have nicknamed it the “Swamp Sweep”).
- DHS framed the operation as focused on violent offenders released after arrests for serious crimes (examples cited: homicide, kidnapping, sexual assault, armed robbery, aggravated assault, domestic abuse, DUI, child abuse and theft) and criticized local ‘sanctuary’ policies that it says force agencies to ignore ICE detainers.
- DHS said it made “dozens” of arrests within 24 hours of the launch, released photos and named several noncitizen arrestees with criminal histories — including Binh Van To (convictions listed: kidnapping, homicide, aggravated assault, robbery), Hung Ngoc Tran (sexual assault, larceny, alleged fondling of a child), Carlos Roberto Guardado‑Ramirez (battery, domestic abuse, child endangerment, resisting, DWI), Jose Raul Lopez‑Serrano (marijuana possession), Luis Fernando Maldonado‑Velasquez (immigration warrant; suspected vehicle theft, forging documents) and Freddy Caldero‑Caraballo (suspected cocaine possession, public intoxication, DWI).
- Operation activity was particularly concentrated in Kenner, Louisiana, with convoys of federal vehicles on main commercial streets and detentions outside businesses and construction sites; Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino appeared in Kenner with agents in tactical gear to mark the launch.
- Local officials reacted variably: Kenner’s mayor said the crackdown is federal jurisdiction and called for professional, lawful conduct by agencies operating in the city; New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said her department will not enforce civil immigration law, while Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill warned that obstructing ICE is a state crime.
- The operation has produced local community and economic effects: multiple Hispanic‑owned restaurants and shops in affected neighborhoods shuttered or emptied as residents and workers avoided going out.
- Anti‑ICE protesters disrupted a New Orleans City Council meeting on Dec. 4, forcing the council to suspend the session; the New Orleans Police Department removed roughly 30–40 protesters after repeated orders to clear the chamber, with at least one person carried out and no arrests reported as of that afternoon.
📊 Relevant Data
Undocumented immigrants have substantially lower crime rates than native-born citizens and legal immigrants across a range of felony offenses.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
Undocumented immigrants are significantly less likely than U.S. citizens to engage in property crime, violent crime, and drug use.
Immigration Status and Crime: A Comparison Between Hispanic Undocumented Immigrants and US Citizens — Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences
In 2023, the U.S. Latino GDP in Louisiana was $21.8 billion.
The 2025 Official LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report™ — Latino Donor Collaborative / Seidman Research Institute
U.S. Latinos accounted for 85.2% of Louisiana's overall state GDP growth from 2018 to 2023.
The 2025 Official LDC U.S. Latino GDP Report™ — Latino Donor Collaborative / Seidman Research Institute
The Hispanic population in Kenner, Louisiana, is 29.3% as of 2023, up from about 14% in 2000, largely due to post-Katrina immigration for reconstruction work.
Kenner Demographics | Current Louisiana Census Data — Louisiana-Demographics.com
📰 Sources (6)
- Operation activity specifically centered in Kenner, La., with convoys of federal vehicles on main commercial streets and detentions outside businesses and construction sites.
- Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino personally appeared in Kenner with agents in tactical gear to tout the launch.
- Kenner Mayor Michael Glaser’s office said the crackdown is under federal jurisdiction and called for professional, lawful conduct by agencies operating in the city.
- DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said 'dozens' of arrests occurred within 24 hours, describing arrestees’ rap sheets as including homicide, kidnapping, child abuse, robbery, theft, and assault.
- Local economic impact details: multiple Hispanic-owned restaurants and shops shuttered or emptied as residents and workers avoid going out.
- DHS says it made “dozens” of arrests in New Orleans within 24 hours of Operation Catahoula Crunch launching.
- DHS named several noncitizen arrestees and listed their criminal histories, including: Vietnam nationals Binh Van To (convictions: kidnapping, homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon) and Hung Ngoc Tran (convictions: sexual assault, larceny, ‘fondling’ of a child); Honduran nationals Carlos Roberto Guardado-Ramirez (arrest history: simple battery, domestic abuse, child endangerment, resisting an officer, DWI) and Jose Raul Lopez-Serrano (conviction: marijuana possession; prior arrest for disturbing the peace); Guatemalan national Luis Fernando Maldonado‑Velasquez (immigration warrant; prior arrests for suspected vehicle theft and forging/altering documents); and Dominican national Freddy Caldero‑Caraballo (prior arrests for suspected cocaine possession, public intoxication, and DWI).
- DHS released photos of arrestees and emphasized the operation targets 'violent criminals,' with Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issuing statements criticizing sanctuary policies and thanking law enforcement.
- Anti-ICE protesters disrupted a New Orleans City Council meeting on Dec. 4, forcing the council to suspend the session and leave the chamber.
- New Orleans Police Department removed roughly 30–40 protesters after repeated orders to clear the room; at least one protester was carried out; no arrests were reported as of Thursday afternoon.
- Article specifies Operation Catahoula Crunch is a two-month initiative deploying 250 Border Patrol agents in New Orleans and surrounding areas; protesters refer to it as 'Swamp Sweep.'
- Includes a sharply worded statement from DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defending the operation and condemning sanctuary policies, stating the focus is on violent offenders released after arrests for serious crimes.
- DHS confirmed it has started a sweeping immigration crackdown in New Orleans.
- PBS NewsHour reports Border Patrol, not ICE, is primarily running the New Orleans operation.
- DHS statement frames sanctuary policies as forcing local agencies to ignore ICE detainers; includes direct quotes from Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
- Targets explicitly include individuals released after arrests for home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape; DHS listed example cases (e.g., aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse, DUI, sexual battery).
- New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said her department will not enforce civil immigration law; Louisiana AG Liz Murrill responded that obstructing ICE is a state crime.