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Mississippi Agrees to Partner in DHS 'Swamp Sweep'—250 Border Agents Expected for Two-Month Operation

Mississippi officials say they will cooperate with a planned Department of Homeland Security operation nicknamed "Swamp Sweep," which is expected to deploy about 250 border agents to parts of Mississippi and neighboring Louisiana for roughly two months. Attorney General Lynn Fitch signed the state on as an ICE law-enforcement partner and said the effort will target trafficking, drug cartels and violent crime. Rep. Michael Guest and Rep. Trent Kelly publicly backed the operation; DHS declined to discuss potential future operations. Key details, including specific locations and timing, remain limited.

11:02 PM, 11/21/2025Security
Mississippi Agrees to Partner in DHS 'Swamp Sweep'—250 Border Agents Expected for Two-Month Operation

Mississippi's top law-enforcement officials have pledged to cooperate with a planned Department of Homeland Security operation called "Swamp Sweep," which is expected to deploy roughly 250 border agents to parts of Mississippi and neighboring Louisiana for about two months.

According to documents cited in reporting, the operation will focus on areas where federal authorities say criminal activity tied to illegal immigration occurs. State leaders say they will work with federal partners rather than impede the enforcement effort, drawing a contrast with some local officials in other jurisdictions who resisted past federal operations.

State leaders pledge support

Attorney General Lynn Fitch said Mississippi was the first state office to sign on as an official ICE law-enforcement partner. "We look forward to working with federal leaders to protect our communities and strengthen our efforts to combat human trafficking, drug cartels, and violent crime," she said, adding that the collaboration will help make Mississippi and the nation safer.

U.S. Rep. Michael Guest, chair of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement, represents a district that stretches from Starkville toward McComb — areas reported to be among the operation's focal points. Guest cited estimates of millions of people living in the country unlawfully and said the operation aims to locate, arrest and remove criminal noncitizens who pose threats to local communities.

Local reaction and federal stance

Rep. Trent Kelly, whose district includes Tupelo and parts of the Memphis suburbs, said he supports efforts to remove criminal noncitizens and stands behind law enforcement working to keep communities safe. An assistant DHS secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, said the department does not discuss potential or future operations but emphasized that DHS enforces federal immigration laws across the nation every day.

Federal enforcement efforts have sometimes encountered resistance from local leaders elsewhere. Mississippi's governor and the state's leading Democratic congressman did not respond to requests for comment about the reported mission.

What to watch next

Details about exact locations, timing and operational tactics remain limited while DHS declines to comment on prospective actions. Reported goals include targeting individuals alleged to be unlawfully present and those suspected of serious criminal activity, with the stated objective of improving public safety.

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