Trump Administration Launches Immigration Crackdown in New Orleans Despite Local Concerns

President Trump has indicated that military forces are essential in urban areas to address criminal activities.

On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiated immigration enforcement operations in New Orleans, marking the latest Democratic-governed municipality to be subjected to the Trump administration's immigration policies.

"DHS law enforcement personnel have arrived in The Big Easy," announced DHS Secretary Kristi Noem via X, referencing the Louisiana city's well-known nickname.

Noem stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents "will remove the worst of the worst from New Orleans, Louisiana, after the city's sanctuary politicians have ignored the rule of law."

The sanctuary policies established by New Orleans authorities restrict local law enforcement's collaboration with federal immigration officials.

The DHS operation in New Orleans follows President Donald Trump's announcement that he intends to deploy National Guard troops to the southern Louisiana city, similar to actions taken previously in Los Angeles, Washington, and Memphis.

"We're going to New Orleans pretty soon," Trump stated. "The governor called me. He'd like to have us go there. He's asked for help in New Orleans and we're going to go there in a couple of weeks."

Trump has maintained that these troop deployments are necessary to combat urban crime and support the comprehensive immigration enforcement he promised during his presidential campaign.

Critics challenge this assertion, with mayors of Los Angeles and Memphis both stating that military presence is unnecessary in their cities.

While Louisiana's governor is Republican, New Orleans' mayor-elect is a Democrat.

Mayor-elect Helena Moreno, who assumes office on January 12, expressed concerns on Wednesday regarding the methods employed in immigration raids conducted in other cities.

"Do we want the most violent criminals off of our streets? Absolutely. Yes," Moreno was quoted saying by NOLA.com. "I don't think anyone is going to object to that.

"But what we've been seeing across the country and in other cities is that Border Patrol appears to be targeting brown people and potentially violating even some of their due process rights."

She also voiced apprehension about federal agents concealing their identities with masks, as reported by NOLA.com.

"If you are a masked person and not necessarily identifiable as an officer, you're coming up on people and grabbing them, it can be a real safety issue for everyone around, including the Border Patrol or ICE agent," Moreno stated.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin indicated that the New Orleans operation would focus on "illegal criminal aliens" wanted for "home invasion, armed robbery, grand theft auto, and rape."

"Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are restoring law and order for the American people," McLaughlin declared in a statement.

The Trump administration contends that most undocumented migrants detained in the immigration crackdown have committed crimes or are wanted for criminal offenses.

However, a study published last month by the Cato Institute revealed that only five percent of those taken into ICE custody since October 1 had violent criminal convictions, while 73 percent had no criminal convictions whatsoever.