Records: Authorities Monitored Online Reaction During New Orleans 'Catahoula Crunch' Immigration Sweep

State and federal agencies closely monitored online conversations and protests tied to the immigration enforcement operation dubbed "Catahoula Crunch" in New Orleans, according to law enforcement records obtained by The Associated Press. The files show officials tracked message boards around the clock for potential threats to agents and compiled regular assessments of public "sentiment" related to arrests.

What The Records Reveal

Briefings circulated among law enforcement documented mixed public reactions — from support for the sweeps to vocal criticism — and flagged groups encouraging people to record ICE and Border Patrol encounters. The bulletins also listed locations where agents could find immigrants and cataloged viral videos and social media posts that drew intense public scrutiny.

Arrests And Criminal Histories

The records identify 38 people arrested in the operation's first two days. Fewer than a third of those detainees had criminal histories beyond traffic violations; the briefings specifically identify nine individuals with significant criminal records. DHS, meanwhile, has publicly highlighted six arrests tied to the operation — all described by the agency as people with criminal histories — and has deployed several hundred agents in southeast Louisiana as part of an effort officials say could seek thousands of arrests across the region.

State-Federal Coordination And Monitoring

The files shed light on cooperation among federal agencies and state partners. The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection posted personnel at the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange, a data-sharing hub that monitored discussions on platforms such as Reddit and other social media where locals exchanged information about the raids.

Public Reaction And Civil Liberties Concerns

"It confirms what we already knew — this was not about public safety, it's about stoking chaos and fear and terrorizing communities,"

— State Sen. Royce Duplessis, New Orleans

Local leaders and community organizers say the operation has lacked transparency and risks chilling protected speech. New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morrell and others said city officials were not given adequate information about who was being arrested and why. Organizers and activists noted that many of their actions — filming agents, sharing crowdsourced reports, and running trainings on how to document enforcement — are lawful and aimed at accountability.

Monitoring Protest Tactics And Debunking Rumors

The fusion center briefings also cataloged protest tactics (such as whistle handouts and hotlines for reporting arrests), tracked footage of enforcement encounters, and worked to debunk false reports — including a circulated claim that a pedestrian had been fatally struck by law enforcement, which the center said did not occur. Officials warned they would arrest anyone who assaulted a federal agent or caused criminal damage to property.

Ongoing Questions

Federal authorities have not released a full accounting of detainees or detailed criminal histories for those arrested, and the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the monitoring beyond referring to a prior news release touting "dozens of arrests." Local officials continue to demand greater transparency as the operation proceeds.

Reporting: The Associated Press reviewed the law enforcement records. Additional reporting from New Orleans and surrounding areas contributed to this story.