The city of New Orleans is preparing for the imminent arrival of up to 250 federal border patrol agents, as former President Donald Trump advances his mass deportation agenda with a major immigration crackdown targeting Democrat-led cities.
Operation Swamp Sweep Approaches
Despite official crime statistics showing a significant decrease in violence, the US Department of Homeland Security is moving forward with 'Operation Swamp Sweep', scheduled to launch across south-east Louisiana and Mississippi on 1 December. According to Associated Press reports, the operation aims to arrest approximately 5,000 people.
The initiative follows Trump's September declaration that New Orleans had "a crime problem", with his promise to "straighten that out in two weeks". This assertion directly contradicts official data showing the city's violent crime rate is 20% lower than last year, including what authorities describe as a historic drop in murders.
Community Resistance Mobilises
New Orleans residents are organising widespread resistance efforts, drawing inspiration from protests in Chicago and Charlotte where similar operations triggered large-scale demonstrations and allegations of excessive force.
Local communities are sharing detailed plans through social media and community text threads, including systems to report ICE sightings, alert manual workers about enforcement threats, and provide escorted routes for children travelling to and from school.
Residents are literally blowing whistles in the streets to warn neighbours when federal officers are spotted. There were reports last Friday of construction workers staying home amid fears that border patrol might begin operations early.
Businesses including restaurants and gas stations are being urged not to serve ICE agents, while the immigrant advocacy group Unión Migrante regularly posts ICE sightings and shares bilingual resources.
Political Divide and Legal Changes
The operation has exposed deep political divisions, with Louisiana's Republican Governor Jeff Landry, a staunch Trump ally, enthusiastically backing the mission. Landry has vigorously aligned state policy with federal immigration efforts and specifically targeted New Orleans' immigration policies.
The GOP-dominated state legislature has passed several measures supporting the crackdown, including laws that threaten prison time for law enforcement officials who delay federal enforcement efforts and legislation banning city policies that prohibit cooperation with immigration agencies.
Meanwhile, New Orleans' Mexican-American mayor-elect, Helena Moreno, expressed serious concerns about the operation. "I'm very concerned about due process being violated, I'm very concerned about racial profiling," she told AP, noting "a lot of fear" in the city and her efforts to ensure potential targets understand their legal rights.
The operation will be led by Gregory Bovino, a senior border patrol commander who has previously overseen aggressive campaigns in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte.
In a significant development, the New Orleans Police Department was released from a federal reform pact on Wednesday that had long shielded its officers from participating in immigration enforcement. Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick stated that while officers would collaborate with federal agents, they would not participate in raids or deportations.
DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment on future operations, stating only that "every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country".
