New Orleans Readies for Federal Immigration Sweep as Communities Mobilize to Protect Residents

New Orleans is preparing for a major federal immigration deployment after reports that up to 250 border agents will arrive to lay groundwork for an operation called "Operation Swamp Sweep," slated to begin on 1 December with a stated target of 5,000 arrests across southeast Louisiana and Mississippi. The deployment comes even as the city reports about a 20% decline in violent crime year-over-year and a historic drop in murders.

The operation is expected to be led by Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol commander who has overseen aggressive enforcement campaigns in other U.S. cities. Those earlier campaigns prompted large protests and legal challenges amid allegations of forceful arrest tactics, use of crowd-control agents and confrontations between federal agents and demonstrators.

Community response: Local advocacy groups and residents are organizing preemptive measures. Bilingual "Know Your Rights" workshops are being held to explain legal protections during immigration encounters, how to safely record agents, what to do if stopped in a vehicle, and when to seek legal counsel. Volunteers and neighborhood networks are sharing ICE-sighting alerts, coordinating escorts for children and vulnerable residents, warning outdoor workers, and using community text threads and audible alerts such as whistles to mobilize quickly if agents are in the area.

Volunteers describe fear among people who appear Latino or undocumented. One volunteer said he worries about being detained based on appearance and urged community education about civil rights and free speech protections. Organizers report people are preparing powers of attorney, locating passports and lining up legal contacts in case of detentions.

Political and legal context: The operation has strong backing from the state governor, who has moved to align state policy with intensified federal immigration enforcement. The state legislature has passed measures increasing cooperation with federal authorities, requiring reporting by state agencies, and expanding penalties for local officials who obstruct federal enforcement.

Separately, the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was recently released from a long-standing federal reform agreement that had limited its role in immigration enforcement. NOPD's superintendent has said city officers will work alongside federal agents but will not take part in removals or deportation operations.

A Department of Homeland Security official emphasized that DHS enforces federal immigration laws nationwide but declined to discuss specifics about any forthcoming operations.

What residents are doing and can do: Community groups continue to run workshops and circulate bilingual resources. Residents are advised to: keep important documents accessible, designate powers of attorney if appropriate, have contact information for immigration attorneys, avoid sharing personal information with strangers, and know how to legally document interactions with law enforcement. Organizers stress de-escalation, legal preparedness and mutual aid as primary tools for community safety.

The situation remains fluid. With federal agents poised to arrive and tensions high, New Orleans communities are balancing legal preparedness, protest readiness and neighborhood support to protect vulnerable residents while local leaders call for respect for due process and protections against racial profiling.