U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that National Guard troops will be deployed to New Orleans, adding to the federal involvement in the city amidst an anticipated immigration enforcement initiative set to kick off this week.
The exact number and timeline of the troop deployment were not specified by Trump. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican and supporter of Trump, had requested up to 1,000 troops back in September to address rising crime rates in the city. He indicated on Monday that he expected the National Guard to arrive in New Orleans before Christmas.
Despite local law enforcement reporting a decrease in crime, Landry has welcomed federal assistance in addressing crime concerns in the Democrat-led New Orleans. He also expressed support for the U.S. Border Patrol-led immigration crackdown, which aims to apprehend 5,000 individuals in the coming weeks.
Critics argue that deploying federal forces to Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, is unnecessary given the decline in violent crime rates in some areas. New Orleans is on track to have one of its safest years statistically since the 1970s, although recent spikes in homicides have been noted.
In response to the impending National Guard deployment, Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, a Democrat, has rejected the move, raising concerns about potential rights violations resulting from increased federal enforcement. Outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell, also a Democrat, expressed willingness to collaborate with federal agencies to enhance public safety.
Louisiana National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Collins declined to provide comments on the deployment. The state has previously been labeled the “murder capital of the country” in 2022 but has seen a significant drop in shootings, carjackings, and armed robberies since then.
Representative Troy Carter, a Louisiana Democrat representing New Orleans, criticized the deployment as a “political stunt” that could lead to chaos and mistakes due to a lack of coordination with local officials and community-based policing strategies.
Apart from New Orleans, Landry has suggested deploying National Guard troops to Baton Rouge and Shreveport. Republican Mayor Sid Edwards of Baton Rouge welcomed the additional support amid a shortage of law enforcement personnel, while Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux expressed a preference for state police assistance over National Guard deployment.
Trump’s administration has sought to deploy National Guard troops in various cities, including Los Angeles, Baltimore, Washington, and Memphis. Legal challenges from Democratic jurisdictions, such as Chicago and Portland, have been raised to block these planned deployments.
