Around 250 arrests reported in Louisiana border crackdown, DHS says

(SLIDELL, LOUISIANA) Federal Border Patrol agents have made 250 arrests in southern Louisiana during an immigration sweep known as Operation Kahula Crunch, according to the latest figure reported by the Department of Homeland Security. Local cell phone video showed men taken into custody from the roof of a construction site in Slidell and from the parking lot of a Latin grocery store.

The operation has been running for nearly two weeks as of December 16, 2025, and DHS has said it is aimed at “the worst of the worst, the dangerous undocumented criminals,” even as the reported breakdown shows only 10% of those arrested had criminal histories.

Arrest totals and why the number matters

The 250-arrest figure is significant because local claims suggested a higher total — “nearly 350.” The DHS reporting points to 250 arrests “to date”, not close to 350.

This numerical difference shapes:
– How local residents perceive the scale of enforcement
– Whether the operation appears to match the public message that it targets people with serious criminal records

Quick arrest breakdown (from DHS reporting)

If only 10% of those arrested had criminal histories, then nine out of ten were reported not to have such histories — a central tension given DHS’s language about targeting the “worst of the worst.”

Video footage and community reaction

The most widely shared images from Slidell came from video obtained by CBS News affiliate WWL-TV and provided by local resident Gerardo Cruz. The footage shows agents arresting three men “presumably construction workers” from the roof of an unfinished building.

• The video was captured last week.
• It shows Border Patrol agents on site and the local fire department assisting to bring the men down so they could be handcuffed and taken to a truck.
• The setting — a construction site roof — contrasts with the “dangerous criminals” description used by DHS and has circulated widely in the community.

A second set of video shows arrests in the parking lot of a Latin grocery store in Slidell. These scenes, paired with the official arrest breakdown, have fueled questions from residents about how Border Patrol is selecting targets during Operation Kahula Crunch and what families should expect during routine trips to work sites and shops.

National attention and local impact

CBS News national reporter Kati Weis reported live from New Orleans about the crackdown as the operation continued, bringing national attention to what initially appeared to be a regional push.

Weis’ reporting, combined with the Cruz video, put a human face on the operation: people in work clothes, detained in visible public places, with neighbors watching and recording. For immigrant families across the area, that visibility can quickly change daily habits:
– Where people shop
– Whether they drive
– Whether they show up for work

Fear that ordinary stops can turn into life-changing encounters with federal agents has led to panic, missed work, and a reduction in public participation for some residents.

What DHS has said — and what the figures suggest

DHS tied the operation to public safety. However, its own figures suggest the sweep is casting a wide net. Key points:
– DHS used the phrase “the worst of the worst” to describe targets.
– DHS also reported that only 10% of those arrested had criminal histories.
– “Criminal history” in immigration contexts can range from serious crimes to older, lower-level offenses.

This juxtaposition — strong public framing vs. low percentage with criminal histories — is the source of tension for residents and immigrant advocates.

Local context: Slidell and interior Border Patrol enforcement

Slidell sits about 40 to 45 minutes outside New Orleans and is a hub for construction and service work tied to the metro area. That context helps explain why images of arrests at a building site had such impact: they show enforcement at the places where many immigrants earn paychecks and try to keep a low profile.

Notes on enforcement scope and partners:
– Border Patrol operations in the interior can occur far from the coastline and often involve cooperation with federal and local partners.
– The source material here does not list the exact agencies involved beyond Border Patrol and the assistance of the local fire department.
– The source material also does not specify the immigration charges or legal bases used for each arrest shown on video.

Guidance for immigrants and families

For immigrants seeking to confirm their rights during encounters with federal agents, the best starting point is official government guidance rather than social media.

• Basic contact information and agency descriptions are available from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees Border Patrol.
• Lawyers emphasize that each case depends on individual facts: identity, immigration history, and any past court orders.
• The speed and scale of operations like Kahula Crunch can make it hard for families to find accurate information in the first hours after an arrest.

Broader consequences for community trust

Framing a sweep as targeted at dangerous people while reporting that only 10% had criminal histories can erode trust in immigrant neighborhoods. Possible effects include:
– Reduced willingness to report crimes or cooperate as witnesses
– Heightened fear among mixed-status households and lawful immigrants
– Community-wide anxiety that encounters with officials could trigger detention

Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that fear often spreads beyond undocumented residents to include lawful immigrants and mixed-status families concerned about errors or delays.

Unanswered questions

From the reporting provided, several details remain unclear:
– Who were the three men on the roof and what were their exact immigration statuses?
– What happened to those individuals after they were transported?
– What specific charges or case details correspond to the arrests at the grocery store and other locations?

DHS has framed the operation in broad terms and has not, in the source material here, provided names, specific charges, or case-level details tied to the Slidell videos.

For residents who watched agents pull people off a roof with the help of the fire department, and for shoppers seeing detentions outside a neighborhood store, the experience is concrete: a federal operation that says it is about “the worst of the worst” is unfolding in everyday places across southern Louisiana, with 250 arrests reported so far.