More than 200 Border Patrol agents are expected to arrive in New Orleans in the coming weeks as part of a federal immigration enforcement operation, according to reports. The deployment follows similar operations in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, marking the latest target of the Trump administration's immigration agenda.
The operation, dubbed “Swamp Sweep,” is reportedly planned to arrest around 5,000 individuals across southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi, beginning on December 1. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not confirmed specifics, with spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stating, “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations.”
New Orleans, led by Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell, is a blue city in a state governed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry. In September, Governor Landry requested activation of the state National Guard over public safety concerns, and he recently defended the federal operation, telling NewsMax: “I don't know what all the fuss is about, because we work with our federal agencies all the time to take dangerous criminals off the street.”
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has indicated it will assist but not participate in arrests of undocumented immigrants, describing such matters as civil rather than criminal. Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has agreed to meet with Customs and Border Protection officials. Meanwhile, some local businesses have posted signs reading “NO ICE ACCESS IN THIS BUILDING,” and schools have reassured families of student safety to prevent panic.
Greg Bovino, a commander with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, posted on social media that “immigration enforcement is going next level,” though he did not specifically mention New Orleans.
