Trendpills
New Orleans is bracing for a large-scale federal immigration enforcement action, dubbed “Operation Swamp Sweep,” set to begin in the first week of December. According to multiple reports, the operation will involve approximately 250 U.S. Border Patrol agents led by Commander Gregory Bovino, who has overseen similar crackdowns in other major U.S. cities.
The deployment is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to increase deportations. The operation follows similar actions in other metropolitan areas, creating a blueprint for what New Orleans might expect. In Chicago, an operation named “Midway Blitz” led to 614 arrests, though the Chicago Tribune reported only 2.6% of those arrested had prior criminal histories. In North Carolina, an operation called “Charlotte’s Web” resulted in over 370 arrests, according to The Charlotte Observer. These federal enforcement efforts have drawn widespread controversy for their tactics and the targeting of individuals without criminal records.
The impending arrival of federal agents has created a climate of intense fear within New Orleans' immigrant communities. Community advocates report that many residents are treating the situation like an impending hurricane, stocking up on groceries and staying home from work and school. The city's immigrant community is on high alert, causing significant disruptions to daily life and the local economy, particularly in the service and construction industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor—the same workforce that was instrumental in rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina.
The operation also highlights a significant political rift. Louisiana's Republican Governor, Jeff Landry, has supported and encouraged the federal crackdown. In contrast, New Orleans' Democratic leaders, including Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, have expressed serious concerns about potential racial profiling and violations of due process. The political standoff intensifies as federal oversight shifts, especially after the recent termination of a long-standing federal consent decree over the New Orleans Police Department, which previously limited its officers' involvement in federal immigration enforcement. As the city waits, community groups are mobilizing to inform residents of their rights, preparing for a confrontation that has already unfolded in other parts of the country.
