Mel Bridges

The Department of Homeland Security says it's sending federal agents to address, quote, criminal illegal aliens roaming free and says local authorities are not cooperating with U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Orleans-Paris Sheriff's Office is under a federal consent decree which prohibits them from holding people suspected of being in the country illegally beyond their release date.

The FBI and Louisiana State Police have rolled out a joint effort to prevent citizens from interfering with federal immigration officers.

Other Democratic-led cities like Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Charlotte have also seen major immigration enforcement efforts.

For NPR News, I'm Mel Bridges.