On the eve of the holiday season, New Orleans finds itself at the center of a national debate and a federal crackdown that’s sending shockwaves through immigrant communities, city officials, and advocacy groups. President Donald Trump’s administration has made clear that the Crescent City is the next major target in its ongoing, city-to-city immigration enforcement campaign, a move that has left many residents anxious and bracing for what’s to come.
According to ABC News, more than 200 federal agents are preparing to deploy to New Orleans as part of President Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdown. Sources confirmed that the operation is imminent, with U.S. Border Patrol agents expected to arrive as soon as November 22, 2025. The campaign is set to ramp up in early December, under the code name “Operation Swamp Sweep,” and could continue into January 2026. The stated goal is to arrest as many as 5,000 people across southeast Louisiana and Mississippi, as reported by the Associated Press and corroborated by Reuters.
For many in New Orleans, the news has brought a sense of déjà vu. Similar raids in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and Charlotte, North Carolina, have already left a trail of fear and disruption. The Border Patrol commander leading the charge, Gregory Bovino, is no stranger to aggressive enforcement tactics, having overseen large-scale operations in these cities. In Charlotte, the presence of federal agents resulted in the arrests of more than 250 people, sparking protests and lawsuits over the use of force. Now, New Orleanians are preparing for the same level of intensity.
Angel Maras, a 24-year-old construction worker, summed up the mood on Bourbon Street as he finished his shift: “I know I should be OK because I have a work permit, but many of my other Honduran friends don’t. And my family and friends have reached out to me to say they are really worried. They are afraid they will see a video of me being hauled away.” Maras’s concerns are far from isolated. As reported by The New York Times, many immigrants in the city have begun hunkering down, avoiding work and keeping their children home from school, hoping to avoid the risk of being swept up in a raid.
The broader community is also feeling the impact. Businesses that serve largely Hispanic clientele have seen a sudden drop in customers, and there’s a palpable sense of unease in neighborhoods with large immigrant populations. In Kenner, a suburb where 30% of residents are Latino—the highest in the state—13 people were arrested earlier this month during a raid at a boat launch. The city’s foreign-born metro population is about 14% Latino, reflecting its rich multicultural heritage.
Local officials and advocates are scrambling to respond. Helena Moreno, the Mexican-American mayor-elect of New Orleans, told the Associated Press, “There is a lot of fear in the city and I’m working to ensure those who could be targeted by federal agents know their legal rights. I’m very concerned about due process being violated, I’m very concerned about racial profiling.” Her concerns are echoed by community organizations like Unión Migrante, which has ramped up its “Know Your Rights” workshops and is sharing resources in both English and Spanish. These workshops teach people how to respond during immigration investigations, what to do if stopped by agents, and how to legally document encounters with law enforcement.
Alfredo Salazar, a volunteer with Unión Migrante, explained to Fox 8, “I look Latino and I worry I could be arrested for it. It’s not just me, but thousands of us here that look Latino. So we have to educate people that we have rights to defend ourselves and freedom of speech.” The group has been using community text threads, social media, and even literal whistles to alert neighbors if ICE agents are spotted nearby. Some construction workers have been told to stay home, and businesses such as restaurants and gas stations are being urged not to serve federal agents.
The federal operation comes with the enthusiastic support of Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry, a staunch Trump ally who has pushed to align state policy with federal immigration enforcement. The GOP-dominated state legislature has passed laws threatening prison time for law enforcement officials who delay or ignore federal enforcement efforts, and another measure requires state agencies to verify and report anyone in the country illegally who is receiving state services. A further law bans city policies that prohibit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Despite the state’s tough stance, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) has taken a more nuanced position. Recently released from a federal reform pact that previously shielded officers from participating in immigration enforcement, the NOPD will now collaborate with federal agents, but Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick was clear: “We will not be participating in the removal, but we will always be there. They’re coming, so I am going to be a collaborator. But I also want to emphasize something to our community: To be in our country undocumented is illegal. To be illegal is not criminal.” Kirkpatrick’s statement, given to WBOK radio, reflects the city’s attempt to balance cooperation with federal authorities and the protection of its residents’ rights.
On the federal side, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the operation. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations.” A spokesperson for DHS, which oversees both Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), declined to comment on future actions in Charlotte or New Orleans.
The timing of the crackdown is noteworthy. Operations are expected to decrease over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, but could extend into the new year. The city, with a population of around 384,000 and a Democratic mayor, has already endured a tumultuous year, including a deadly terrorist attack on New Year’s Day, the indictment of its mayor in August, and a lingering budget crisis. Now, with the federal spotlight on immigration, residents are left to wonder how much more disruption they can weather.
As New Orleans braces for the arrival of federal agents, the city’s complex tapestry of cultures, histories, and communities is being tested. Whether the coming weeks bring mass arrests or a new wave of resistance, one thing is certain: the eyes of the nation will be watching closely as this storied city faces yet another defining moment.
