Trump announces deployment of National Guard to New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that National Guard troops will soon be deployed to New Orleans, adding to a federal surge in the city, which is also set to experience a separate immigration operation called Swamp Sweep scheduled for later this week. Trump did not specify the number of troops or their exact arrival date.

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican who requested up to 1,000 troops in September to assist with crime prevention, indicated on Monday that the Guard might arrive before Christmas. Gov. Landry a great guy, a great governor hes asked for help in New Orleans. And were going to go there in a couple of weeks, Trump said during a White House Cabinet meeting.

Landry, a strong Trump supporter, has expressed support for federal involvement in Democratic-led New Orleans, citing concerns about high violent crime rates, despite local police reporting a decline in crime. He also shared on social media that We Welcome the Swamp Sweep in Louisiana, referencing the Border Patrol-led operation aimed at arresting roughly 5,000 individuals over the coming weeks.

Critics argue that sending federal troops or agents is unnecessary, especially since some cities, including New Orleans, have shown a decrease in violent crime. The city is on track for one of its safest years statistically since the 1970s. In September, Landry formally requested federally funded National Guard assistance, citing increased violent crime in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport, as well as law enforcement shortages. He also mentioned that Louisianas vulnerability to natural disasters adds complexity and that additional support would be valuable for major events like Mardi Gras and college football bowl games.

A Louisiana National Guard spokesperson, Lt. Col. Noel Collins, declined to comment on the Tuesday announcement. In 2022, New Orleans recorded the highest per-capita homicide rate in the U.S., with 266 murders, roughly 70 per 100,000 residents. Three years later, violent incidents such as shootings, armed robberies, and carjackings have declined. Although there has been a recent uptick in homicides, the city is still on track for its lowest numbers in nearly five decades, with 97 murders reported as of early November by the New Orleans Police Department.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, a Democrat set to take office in January, has opposed National Guard deployment, expressing concern that federal immigration enforcement could lead to rights violations. Outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell, also a Democrat and facing federal corruption charges, previously said the city is open to working with federal authorities to enhance public safety. Cantrells spokesperson, Terry Davis, noted that the city has a history of collaboration with the National Guard and state and federal law enforcement.

Other city officials warned that deploying troops could disrupt cultural traditions, such as street brass band parades known as second-lines, and strain relationships between communities and the police. In January, 100 Guard members were sent to New Orleans to help secure the city following a truck attack on New Years Day that killed 14 people and injured many others on Bourbon Street.

Governor Landry also suggested sending federally funded National Guard troops to Baton Rouge and Shreveport, noting on Monday that deployments could extend beyond New Orleans. Baton Rouge Mayor Sid Edwards, a Republican, welcomed additional personnel amid police shortages, even as homicides in the city are expected to drop compared to last year. Law enforcement efforts have recently led to over 100 arrests and the seizure of firearms, addressing issues with gun violence and bystanders caught in crossfire involving modified weapons.

In Shreveport, Republican Mayor Tom Arceneaux reported significant reductions in violent crime and expressed willingness to cooperate with the National Guard, though he prefers state police officers. Louisiana joins several other locations where Trump has sent or proposed sending National Guard troops recently, including Los Angeles, Baltimore, Washington, and Memphis. Leaders in Democratic-controlled areas have sometimes pursued legal challenges to prevent federal troop deployments, such as in Chicago and Portland, Oregon.

Author: Sophia Brooks