Micah James Legnon, a 28-year-old former U.S. Marine, was arrested while en route to New Orleans with firearms and body armor, as detailed in court documents. Federal authorities had been monitoring Legnon due to his connections with an extremist group that opposes capitalism and government authority. This group, identified as the Turtle Island Liberation Front, advocates for decolonization and tribal sovereignty.

Legnon's plans for an attack intensified following the deployment of several hundred immigration agents to southeast Louisiana as part of an operation named "Catahoula Crunch," which aims for 5,000 arrests. This operation is part of a broader trend of immigration enforcement actions occurring in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Court documents reveal that Legnon expressed intentions to replicate the 1993 Waco siege, which resulted in significant loss of life, in a group chat shortly after the arrival of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in New Orleans. Investigators noted that Legnon had shared a video of a firearm and body armor, indicating preparations for the alleged attack.

Upon his arrest on December 12, agents discovered an assault rifle, a pistol, a gas canister, and body armor in Legnon's vehicle. Additionally, his apartment contained sniper and SWAT training manuals, along with more firearms and ammunition. The court documents did not indicate whether Legnon had legal representation.

In a related case, four members of the same extremist group were arrested in California while planning to detonate bombs in southern California on New Year’s Eve. This plot involved complex devices intended to target multiple businesses simultaneously. The group's discussions also included plans to attack ICE agents in 2026.

These incidents highlight ongoing concerns regarding domestic extremism and the potential for violence linked to anti-government sentiments, particularly in the context of heightened state enforcement actions against immigrant populations.