DHS launches new immigration crackdown operation in New Orleans

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched its newest immigration crackdown operation in New Orleans aimed at capturing "criminal illegal aliens."

In its announcement of Operation Catahoula Crunch, DHS said the federal crackdown was targeting illegal immigrants who were arrested for crimes and then subsequently released due to sanctuary policies. The department said that such polices "force" local law enforcement to "ignore" U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest detainers.

"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," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

"It is asinine that these monsters were released back onto New Orleans streets to COMMIT MORE CRIMES and create more victims. Catahoula Crunch targets include violent criminals who were released after arrest for home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape," she said. "Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are restoring law and order for the American people."

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In its announcement, DHS included several examples of illegal immigrants who were released from custody despite their criminal records. Those on the list were arrested for crimes such as aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse, driving under the influence, home invasion and sexual battery, among others.

New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick sparked backlash last week after saying that illegal immigration by foreign nationals in the U.S. is a "civil issue" and that her agency would not enforce certain immigration laws.

"We will not enforce civil law, and so our support is to make sure they're not going to get hurt and our community is not in danger," Kirkpatrick said.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said on social media that she spoke with Kirkpatrick about the remarks and reaffirmed that "it is a state crime to obstruct ICE and federal immigration enforcement."

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The Trump administration has put an emphasis on its crackdown on illegal immigration, with DHS Secretary Kristi Noem accusing the Biden administration of using DHS to "invade the country with terrorists."

"If you think about what Joe Biden did with the Department of Homeland Security, he used this department to invade the country with terrorists. He opened up the borders, let anybody come in that wanted to," Noem said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "He put 'em on airplanes, he let them through our airports, where if they could figure out a way to get to our shores and in our country, he just opened the door and invited them in. So, it's our job to get 'em out."

As part of the launch of Operation Catahoula Crunch, DHS released a list of 10 illegal immigrants who the department said had been arrested and then released back onto the streets of Louisiana. DHS said that two of the men on the list have since been deported.

Juan Ramon Dubon-Argueta, a Honduran national who DHS notes was "previously removed" from the U.S., was arrested for aggravated assault child endangerment, aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse, home invasion and property damage. 

Vu Hoang Pham, an illegal immigrant from Vietnam, was arrested for a litany of crimes, including aggravated battery, domestic abuse and aggravated assault, grand theft auto, aggravated assault, second-degree aggravated battery, battery of a police officer, simple burglary, public intoxication, theft, burglary - criminal conspiracy, driving under the influence, possession of burglary tools, fraud, false impersonation and other drug related crimes, DHS said.

Jose Fernando Arzu-Osorto, a Honduran national in the U.S. illegally, was arrested for indecent behavior with a juvenile under 17 and armed robbery. He was released due to sanctuary policies and went on to be arrested again for armed robbery.

Darwin Alexis Murillo-Ponce, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was arrested for second-degree aggravated battery and was subsequently released due to sanctuary policies, DHS said.

DHS also named Hared Fransisco Cruz-Alvarado, an illegal immigrant from Honduras who has been deported, was arrested while in the U.S. for third-degree rape, simple battery, and criminal trespass.

Qise Awni Ahmad Al Besani, an illegal immigrant from Jordan, was arrested for sexual battery.

Andres Lopez-Castillejos, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who has been removed from the U.S. four times, was arrested for domestic abuse, child endangerment, armed robbery and driving without a license.

Melvin Arnaul Velasquez-Ordonez, who hails from Honduras, was arrested for domestic abuse, child endangerment and simple assault while in the U.S. illegally, DHS said.

The department said Guatemalan illegal immigrant Andy Javier Ruano-Reyes was arrested for possession of a stolen firearm.

Also named was Jason Steven Arce-Arce, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador who has been deported after being arrested for burglary and minor in possession of alcohol.

On Tuesday, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new guidance pausing immigration from 19 countries, 12 of which were on full travel bans while the other seven were under partial restrictions. The impacted nations are Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The immigration pause, which is effective immediately, applies to nationals from the 19 listed nations who entered the U.S. on or after Jan. 20, 2021, the date of former President Joe Biden's inauguration. Migrants from one of the 19 countries who came into the U.S. after that date will be subjected to a re-review process that could include an interview to screen for all possible national security and public safety risks.

It also impacts all green card and citizenship applications for anyone hailing from one of the now-restricted countries. Individuals from one of the 19 nations who have already passed the citizenship test will not be able to have U.S. citizenship ceremonies until after the guidance is lifted.

Fox News' Bill Melugin and Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this report.