Federal authorities are sending hundreds of National Guard troops to New Orleans as the Trump administration ramps up its security footprint in major U.S. cities, pairing the move with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation already underway in the city.
The Pentagon said Tuesday that 350 Guard members will arrive in New Orleans before the New Year to assist federal agencies during a Border Patrol-led immigration crackdown. According to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, the troops will support agencies such as the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, and are expected to remain in the city through February.
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry welcomed the deployment, crediting President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for coordinating the effort. The Republican governor said he believes the added federal presence will improve public safety across the state.
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“It’s going to help us further crack down on the violence here in the city of New Orleans and elsewhere around Louisiana,” Landry said in an appearance on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.” “And so a big shoutout to both of them.”
The decision has attracted criticism from community advocates and civil liberties groups who argue the deployment is unnecessary and risks alarming residents. They note that violent crime in New Orleans has fallen, not risen, over the past year.
The Guard deployment coincides with a stepped-up immigration operation in the Democrat-led city. The Department of Homeland Security said Border Patrol agents have arrested several hundred people since the start of the month, part of a broader campaign expected to last for months with a stated target of 5,000 arrests.
Landry has repeatedly pushed for federal assistance. In September, he formally requested 1,000 federally funded troops for Louisiana cities, citing public safety concerns. He has also publicly praised Trump for authorizing similar deployments in cities such as Washington and Memphis, Tennessee.
The relationship between the president and the governor has grown closer. On Sunday, Trump announced he had tapped Landry to serve as his special envoy to Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory the president has said the United States needs to take over for strategic reasons.
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Crime data complicates the administration’s justification. New Orleans has been on track for much of the year to record its lowest murder total in decades, according to preliminary police figures. As of Nov. 1, the city had recorded 97 homicides in 2025, including 14 people killed during a New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street.
Authorities said a U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck bearing the flag of the Islamic State group bypassed a police blockade and plowed into crowds celebrating the New Year before being fatally shot by officers.
By comparison, New Orleans recorded 124 homicides last year and 193 in 2023. Police data also show declines in armed robberies, aggravated assaults, carjackings, shootings, and property crimes, AP reported.
National Guard troops are a familiar sight in the city during high-profile moments. Earlier this year, 100 Guard members were deployed after the New Year’s Day attack to bolster security. Troops were also stationed in New Orleans for major events such as the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.
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