Trump Administration Deploys 350 National Guard Troops to New Orleans Amid Crime and Immigration Crackdown
The Trump administration has deployed 350 National Guard troops to New Orleans through February to support federal law enforcement agencies including the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the guardsmen will perform typical city deployment roles and assist federal partners.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry praised the deployment, saying it would help crack down on violence in New Orleans and across Louisiana. He credited former President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for coordinating the effort. However, critics argue that the deployment is unwarranted and could instill fear in the community, noting that New Orleans has recently seen a decrease in violent crime rates.
The deployment coincides with a Border Patrol immigration crackdown involving hundreds of arrests in the first weeks of a months-long operation aiming for about 5,000 arrests nationwide.
In context, New Orleans has experienced 97 homicides in 2025 as of November 1. The city suffered 14 deaths on New Year’s Day in a Bourbon Street truck attack, with annual homicide counts of 124 in 2024 and 193 in 2023. The city has previously hosted National Guard troops for major events this year, including the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, and had 100 guardsmen deployed in January following the New Year’s Day attack.
