NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Department of Homeland Security launched a new immigration sweep in New Orleans called “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” targeting alleged migrant criminals who were released from jail due to sanctuary policies.

The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office is under a federal consent decree. Jail staff do not hold inmates past their release dates, regardless of whether the federal government has an arrest detainer.

The jail’s policy was adopted more than a decade ago in response to a federal civil rights lawsuit.

DHS says many of the alleged criminals they are targeting were initially arrested on charges of home invasion, armed robbery and rape. It is not clear whether the suspects were ever tried and convicted of those crimes.

A federal judge ruled last month that the state

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