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N O L A.C O M
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T h u r s d ay, d e c e m b e r 11, 2025
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Sweeps net fewer arrests in N.O. Protests of immigration enforcement also milder
Moreno may lack options in challenging Border Patrol
BY JAMES FINN Staff writer
BY SOPHIE KASAKOVE and LARA NICHOLSON
When U.S. Border Patrol agents descended onto New Orleans one week ago as part of President Donald Trump’s federal immigration crackdown, local organizers and Democratic officials braced for mass arrests. Images from Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina, foreshadowed what could happen. Border Patrol agents in recent months made thousands of arrests, wielded aggressive tactics and clashed with protesters in both cities. But so far in Louisiana, where the Border Patrol operation is dubbed “Catahoula Crunch,” agents appear to have netted fewer arrests — with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security citing the overall number as dozens without giving specifics. They’ve targeted home improvement store parking lots, worksites and a car wash. Some U.S. citizens and permit-holders have been taken for questioning and then released. And despite criticism from advocates and some local Democratic officials, the scope of the arrests around New Orleans — and the intensity of responsive demonstrations — has remained more muted than in other cities, where mass arrests and protests flared up. “Strictly from an enforcement standpoint, there has not been
Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, who requested that the U.S. Border Patrol make several changes to its tactics while in New Orleans, may face an “We, of course, uphill climb in getrecognize ting any of those federal law changes to take and federal place, based on the enforcement legal options availauthority, but able and the experience of Democratic we also stand officials in other here with an U.S. cities. obligation Though she to ensure doesn’t take office that federal until Jan. 12, Moreno has served as operations the city’s de facto are conducted leader since her transparently, October election constitutionally victory. On Friand with day, she demanded that the Border respect for Patrol stop wear- local residents” ing masks, provide MAyOR-ELECT local officials with information on HELENA MORENO people it detains and focus only on violent criminals during its Catahoula Crunch operation. “We, of course, recognize federal law and federal enforcement authority, but we also stand here with an obligation to ensure that federal operations are conducted transparently, constitutionally and with respect for local residents,” Moreno said. In response, Border Patrol leader
Staff writers
STAFF PHOTO By BRETT DUKE
Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, right, walks with Border Patrol agents in Kenner ä See SWEEP, page 4A on Friday.
ä See MORENO, page 5A
La.’s Medicaid contract decision has deep roots Dispute stems from drug prices, pharmacy benefit managers BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer
Louisiana’s last-minute decision this month not to renew a $4.2 billion contract with UnitedHealthcare to provide Medicaid benefits for roughly 330,000 people is the latest front in a larger battle some state officials are waging against major
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health companies over prescription drug prices. That decision, made weeks before new health policies are set to take effect, caught legislators off guard and raised concerns about disruptions for patients. The Louisiana Department of Health has said it will transition recipients to one of the five other existing companies providing Medicaid services. The problem does not appear to be with the UnitedHealthcare contract itself — in fact, the Health Department asked lawmakers last month to renew it — Attorney General Liz Murrill has tied it to another
issue: a lawsuit over pharmacy benefit managers. Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, negotiate drug prices on behalf of health plans. OptumRx has provided that service for the state government, and its parent company, UnitedHealth Group, also owns UnitedHealthcare. Gov. Jeff Landry, who was then attorney general, sued UnitedHealthcare and OptumRx in April 2022, alleging they used the complexity of their business model to inflate the prices of drugs. The company
STAFF FILE PHOTO By HILARy SCHEINUK
Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill have been embroiled in a legal battle with major ä See CONTRACT, page 7A health companies over prescription drug prices.
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