New Orleans, a city celebrated worldwide for its vibrant culture, rich history, and unique identity as the birthplace of jazz, is now bracing itself for a significant federal immigration crackdown set to begin in December. This effort, known as Operation “Swamp Sweep,” represents one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement campaigns under the Trump administration and is poised to transform the city’s landscape in the coming months.
Operation “Swamp Sweep” is scheduled to launch December 1 in southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans. The operation is expected to bring approximately 250 federal troops into the city as early as this week. These forces will be deployed with the backing of Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry, who has been a vocal supporter of intensified immigration enforcement. His administration’s collaboration with federal immigration officials signals a sharp departure from the city’s traditionally more lenient stance on immigration matters.
Governor Landry has actively sought to align Louisiana’s policies with the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Despite Louisiana not sharing a border with another country, it has become a major hub for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, with facilities capable of housing over 6,000 detainees. In September, the state opened the “Louisiana Lockup” inside a notorious prison to detain immigrants labeled as dangerous by federal authorities. This facility signals the state’s expanding role in immigration enforcement, further supported by Landry’s legislative efforts and legal challenges aimed at increasing cooperation with federal agents.
The governor has also pointed to crimes involving suspects whose immigration status is uncertain to justify his tough stance on immigration. One high-profile case cited was the killing of a French Quarter tour guide by a group that included an undocumented Honduran man. Such incidents have been used to bolster arguments for stricter enforcement and increased federal involvement in New Orleans.
However, New Orleans’ local leaders, predominantly Democrats, have frequently clashed with Landry and other state officials over these policies. They criticize the state’s approach as overly harsh and harmful to immigrant communities. Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, a Mexican-American immigrant herself, has expressed deep concerns about the federal crackdown, highlighting the widespread fear it is instilling within the city’s immigrant populations. Moreno emphasizes the need to protect due process rights and guard against racial profiling, which many fear will accompany the federal sweep.
New Orleans is a culturally diverse city with a rich tapestry of ethnic and historical influences. Its population includes more than 10,000 ethnic Vietnamese residents who arrived after the Vietnam War, as well as a significant Latino community recognized for their contributions to rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina. The city’s distinct Cajun heritage also adds to its unique identity, rooted in French-speaking colonists exiled to the region in the 18th century. This multicultural backdrop complicates the impact of Operation Swamp Sweep as it threatens to disrupt many communities and families who have long been part of the city’s social fabric.
In September, Governor Landry requested a National Guard deployment to New Orleans, citing rising violent crime rates. However, city officials dispute this characterization, with local police reporting that crime is actually down and elected leaders asserting that federal troops are unnecessary. Landry has framed the upcoming operation as a mission to “take dangerous criminals off the street,” emphasizing public safety as the primary goal.
On the ground, immigration advocates express grave concerns about the operation’s potential consequences. Rachel Taber, an organizer with the New Orleans-based advocacy group Union Migrante, criticized the crackdown as hypocritical and harmful. She pointed out that those pushing for aggressive immigration enforcement also benefit from immigrant labor, particularly during major local events like Mardi Gras, where immigrants play key roles in hotel work and event cleanup. Taber warns that ramped-up enforcement efforts could tear apart communities and disrupt the city’s economy.
Tensions between city and state authorities have also resulted in punitive measures against New Orleans. In August, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell accusing the city of adopting sanctuary policies that hinder federal immigration enforcement. As a result, New Orleans has been barred from receiving certain federal law enforcement grants, creating additional strain between local and federal agencies. The city’s Democratic leadership has remained largely silent on these accusations, with Mayor Cantrell not responding to requests for comment.
Legislatively, Governor Landry’s Republican-controlled Louisiana Legislature has targeted New Orleans’ immigration policies with several laws designed to increase enforcement and limit local protections for undocumented immigrants. One law threatens jail time for law enforcement officials who delay or refuse