New Orleans is bracing for a massive federal immigration crackdown as hundreds of US border patrol officers are expected to arrive in the city on December 1st. The operation, dubbed "Operation Swamp Sweep," aims to arrest over 5,000 people in south-east Louisiana and Mississippi, with New Orleans being a key target.
President Trump has declared the city to have a "crime problem" and vowed to tackle it within two weeks, despite the fact that violent crime rates are actually lower this year. The city's mayor-elect, Helena Moreno, is warning of widespread fear among residents, particularly those who are undocumented or whose temporary status under the Biden administration is no longer recognized.
As the operation begins, activists in New Orleans are preparing to resist the crackdown, sharing plans to report ICE sightings and alert landscapers and other manual workers about potential enforcement actions. They're also organizing community text threads, social media campaigns, and whistleblowing efforts to warn neighbors who may be targeted by federal agents.
Community groups like Unión Migrante are holding "Know Your Rights" workshops, educating people on their protections during immigration investigations, how to film ICE agents, and legal advice from immigration lawyers. Advocates say these workshops are crucial for residents who look Latino or may be mistakenly identified as undocumented.
New Orleans is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, with 14% of its foreign-born population being Latino, making it a prime target for Trump's mass deportation agenda. The city's Republican governor, Jeff Landry, has been a staunch ally of Trump and has pushed for state policies to align with federal efforts.
However, the New Orleans police department has announced that officers will not participate in raids or deportations, but will collaborate with federal agents on other tasks. As DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country."
With enforcement ramping up across the region, residents are bracing for a long and potentially volatile battle against Trump's immigration crackdown.
President Trump has declared the city to have a "crime problem" and vowed to tackle it within two weeks, despite the fact that violent crime rates are actually lower this year. The city's mayor-elect, Helena Moreno, is warning of widespread fear among residents, particularly those who are undocumented or whose temporary status under the Biden administration is no longer recognized.
As the operation begins, activists in New Orleans are preparing to resist the crackdown, sharing plans to report ICE sightings and alert landscapers and other manual workers about potential enforcement actions. They're also organizing community text threads, social media campaigns, and whistleblowing efforts to warn neighbors who may be targeted by federal agents.
Community groups like Unión Migrante are holding "Know Your Rights" workshops, educating people on their protections during immigration investigations, how to film ICE agents, and legal advice from immigration lawyers. Advocates say these workshops are crucial for residents who look Latino or may be mistakenly identified as undocumented.
New Orleans is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, with 14% of its foreign-born population being Latino, making it a prime target for Trump's mass deportation agenda. The city's Republican governor, Jeff Landry, has been a staunch ally of Trump and has pushed for state policies to align with federal efforts.
However, the New Orleans police department has announced that officers will not participate in raids or deportations, but will collaborate with federal agents on other tasks. As DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement, "Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country."
With enforcement ramping up across the region, residents are bracing for a long and potentially volatile battle against Trump's immigration crackdown.
ICE is like that one aunt at Thanksgiving - it just shows up uninvited and makes everyone uncomfortable 
meanwhile, US Border Patrol officers look like they're about to raid a rave party 
... like trump says it's a "crime problem" but does he even care about the real issues that matter? violent crime rates are actually lower this year, and its not just about numbers its about ppl's lives. i feel bad for all the families who might get torn apart by these raids. how can we trust our government when they're just gonna come in and start arresting people w/o due process? 
community groups r doin a great job tryna educate ppl on their rights but it's not enough... more needs to be done to stop this 
just heard that New Orleans is getting hit with this massive federal immigration crackdown on Dec 1st 
and now they're gonna start rounding up ppl who are already trying to make a life for themselves? 
and can we talk about how this whole thing is just based on Trump's ego 
he declared NOLA has a "crime problem" but it's not like that's a fact 
, the ppl of NOLA are prepping for some serious resistance 
with community groups holding workshops and organizing text threads and social media campaigns to help people know their rights 
and just... ugh 
- violent crimes are actually down 12% this year compared to last. but trump is still going on about "crime problems" in new orleans... meanwhile, did you know that latino immigrants make up 14% of new orleans' foreign-born population? 
we need more representation and understanding in our politics. btw, trump's operation swamp sweep is expected to bring in over 5k people for arrest... what does that say about our immigration system? 
I'm still on the ground in 2020 when ICE started cracking down on the city. Remember how it was all about "family values" and "immigration reform"? Fast forward to now, and it feels like we're right back where we started. The "crime problem" narrative is just a smokescreen for what's really going on here: a mass deportation agenda that's gonna hit communities of color the hardest 
. It's time for us to stand with our neighbors, even if they're undocumented or temporary residents – we're all in this together 
this is getting out of hand... I mean, I get it, there are laws to be enforced, but come on! 
New Orleans is already struggling with poverty and crime issues, the last thing they need is a massive immigration crackdown. And what's up with Trump declaring the city has a "crime problem" when the stats show violent crimes are actually lower this year? 
As for the community groups organizing resistance, I salute them 
It sounds like a total nightmare scenario - hundreds of ICE agents descending upon the city and arresting thousands of people, including those who might be innocent or just trying to make a life for themselves. I mean, violent crime rates are actually lower this year, not higher, so what's Trump's beef? 
I'm so worried about what's gonna happen in New Orleans on Dec 1st. 5k ppl getting arrested is crazy talk! 
They're saying crime rates r lower this year but Trump just ignores that and says the city has a problem? 
I'm also glad community groups are organizing workshops on immigration rights and legal advice. We gotta stand up for our neighbors, especially those who might be mistaken for being undocumented. 
President Trump is being super mean by saying New Orleans has a "crime problem" when we all know crime rates are actually lower this year 
And can you believe our governor Jeff Landry is just going to roll with Trump's agenda? 
They deserve protection and love, not deportation 
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. I think we need to calm down and talk about this rationally instead of resorting to fear-mongering. The numbers don't lie – crime rates are actually lower this year, and we shouldn't jump to conclusions based on one person's declaration.
– we should all attend them!
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- 5k+ people at risk of being arrested & deported?! That's insane! What about all the innocent folks who don't deserve to be targeted just because they're from a different country? 
I feel for Helena Moreno, she's right to warn everyone about this. Community groups need to keep organizing those "Know Your Rights" workshops ASAP - we gotta make sure everyone knows their protections! 
. Community groups are preparin' to resist, but I'm not sure if that'll make a difference. We're seein' this from both sides of the aisle, the gov and the activists, they all wanna win. But NOLA's more than just a city, it's a melting pot, everybody's lookin' out for each other. This whole thing feels like a big mess 
. I mean, 5k arrests is a lot, but what about the ppl who are already living their lives here? Don't they deserve a chance to stay without being targeted by ICE? 