US federal authorities have launched an operation to enforce immigration laws against individuals residing illegally in New Orleans, the Department of Homeland Security announced, quoted by „Reuters“, reports News.bg.
The operation is part of the intensified measures of the administration of President Donald Trump against illegal immigration in major cities.
Department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin specified that among the main targets of the operation are individuals with criminal pasts, including suspects in burglary, armed robbery, car theft and rape, who were released after arrests.
The exact scope of the operation in New Orleans is not yet clear, but it is expected to continued until the end of the year, with a possible temporary delay around the Christmas holidays.
During a cabinet meeting yesterday, President Trump said that the National Guard would be deployed to the city in a few weeks.
New Orleans, which has about 384,000 residents and a Democratic mayor, is among the cities hit by Trump's sweeping campaign to deport immigrants. Since the summer, federal immigration authorities have also increased their presence in Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, which has drawn sharp criticism for its aggressive practices and the detention of people without criminal records.
The operation in New Orleans came shortly after a similar operation in Charlotte, North Carolina.