The Department of Homeland Security officially launched an immigration operation in New Orleans on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The operation is being called "Catahoula Crunch" by the department. Sign up for our Newsletters Around 250 federal border agents are expected to be in New Orleans for a monthslong immigration crackdown in southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Trump administration officials overseeing the immigration crackdown launched this week in New Orleans are aiming to make 5,000 arrests with a focus on violent offenders, a target that some city leaders say is not realistic.

The operations were launched a day after President Donald Trump said he’d be sending National Guard troops to New Orleans and disparaged Somali immigrants in Minneapolis.

"They’re not focusing on particular people, they're focusing on particular traits," said attorney Homero López, a former immigration judge. "Those traits tend to be physical in nature.”

Some businesses and institutions have closed or limited social activities to protect their workers and customers.

More than 200 federal agents are expected to begin fanning out across New Orleans on Wednesday after the Department of Homeland Security announced the start of an immigration crackdown dubbed Operation Catahoula Crunch.

Federal officers are in the city for an operation aimed at enforcing the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

Canal Pointe is New Orleans’ only family-centered residential treatment and recovery facility for pregnant women and mothers with children.

Soulful kitchens, warm welcomes, and bold New Orleans plates create a joyful trail where every bite feels rich with heart.

Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service is surging far beyond expectations, with more than 46,000 riders since its Aug. 18 launch and trains filling up along the Gulf Coast.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was ordered in October to pay the legal fees for Anne Breaud after the Louisiana Supreme Court chose not to take up her appeal regarding the stalking case.

An enforcement surge gives the the city’s incoming mayor an early test.