More than 200 Border Patrol agents are expected to arrive in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the coming weeks, according to a report.
The Big Easy could soon become the next target of the Trump administration’s federal immigration agenda, sources told ABC News.
It was not immediately clear when exactly federal agents would land in New Orleans. However, there has been speculation for weeks that agents were heading to Louisiana’s largest city, following similar immigration operations in Chicago, Los Angeles and most recently Charlotte.
“Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the land across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations.” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said The independent in a statement.
Last week the Associated press reported that DHS planned to conduct Operation “Swamp Sweep,” arresting approximately 5,000 people in southeastern Louisiana and Mississippi. This crackdown on immigration is expected to begin on December 1, the newspaper reported.
Unlike the administration’s previous immigration goals, which focused on blue cities in blue states, New Orleans is a city led by Democratic Mayor LaToya Cantrell in a state led by GOP Governor Jeff Landry.
In September Landry asked to activate the state National Guard to address “ongoing public safety concerns.” Last week I talked about Swamp Sweep, the governor told NewsMax: “I don’t know what all the fuss is about because we continually work with our federal agencies to take dangerous criminals off the streets.”
The independent has asked the mayor and police of New Orleans for comment on DHS’s reported plans.
Earlier this month, New Orleans police said Anne Kirkpatrick, the chief inspector, planned to meet with Customs and Border Protection officials.
“Superintendent Kirkpatrick said she welcomes the U.S. Border Patrol to New Orleans, as NOPD does with all of our federal law enforcement partners,” the spokesperson said. The hill. “However, NOPD will only assist and will not participate in arrests of undocumented immigrants or illegal aliens as this is a civil matter and does not fall under NOPD jurisdiction.”
Some local businesses have expressed their objections to the possible presence of federal immigration agents by posting signs on their windows that read: “NO ICE ACCESS IN THIS BUILDING.”
“This is a private business. You are not permitted to enter non-public areas of this business,” the message reads. “You may not interrogate employees or search the premises without proper legal authority.”
Schools in the New Orleans area have sent messages to families that their students are safe on their campuses, hoping to avoid panic. Nola.com reported.
Greg Bovino, the commander of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, did not mention New Orleans but boasted on social media about next-level immigration enforcement. after Saturday: “Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, immigration enforcement is going to the next level.”
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