Federal Immigration Sweep Could Begin in New Orleans as Early as Dec. 1, DHS Sources Say

Department of Homeland Security sources say a federal immigration enforcement operation could begin in New Orleans as early as Dec. 1. Internal government documents indicate the administration plans to deploy roughly 200 Border Patrol agents to the city as part of a broader, nationwide effort targeting undocumented immigrants.

The proposed deployment would place New Orleans — commonly known as the Big Easy — among several Democratic-led cities that have seen recent large-scale immigration operations. Officials say the agents, typically in Border Patrol green uniforms, are being sent far from the U.S.–Mexico border to conduct targeted arrests.

Recent operations and tactics

In recent weeks, Border Patrol teams led by Commander Gregory Bovino carried out a series of sweeps in the Charlotte area that produced more than 200 arrests, according to DHS officials. That operation, referred to by officials as "Charlotte's Web," is expected to wind down soon.

Earlier rounds of enforcement under the same leadership included large-scale actions in Chicago and Los Angeles, where suspected unauthorized immigrants were detained at worksites, parking areas and other public locations across metropolitan areas. Internal planning documents also show requests for armored vehicles and special operations teams for both the Charlotte and New Orleans deployments.

Local response and controversy

Those operations drew protests and tense confrontations with local residents and community groups. Critics have accused federal agents of heavy-handed tactics and racial profiling. Administration officials reject those claims, saying arrests are based on immigration status rather than race and defending officers' use of force in the face of threats to law enforcement.

In New Orleans, the federal operation would occur in a city led by a Democratic mayor while the state is governed by Republican Jeff Landry, an ally of the president who has cooperated with federal immigration efforts.

What to watch: Whether the deployment proceeds as planned, how local officials respond, and what safeguards will be in place to protect civil liberties and avoid community disruption.