The Trump administration is gearing up to launch a significant immigration enforcement operation in New Orleans, targeting undocumented immigrants within the city’s borders. Dubbed the ‘Swamp Sweep,’ this initiative will see approximately 250 federal immigration agents deployed to Louisiana, tasked with apprehending at least 5,000 individuals residing in the country illegally. This crackdown comes as part of a broader effort under President Trump’s national deportation directive.

The operation’s leadership falls to Greg Bovino, a Border Patrol commander who has previously been at the helm of similar missions in major cities like Chicago and Los Angeles. Bovino, known for his close working relationship with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is expected to steer this latest initiative. The impending arrival of federal agents has already sparked fear and concern among the immigrant community in New Orleans, a city known for its liberal stance on many issues.

In anticipation of the operation, local businesses have started putting up signs prohibiting federal agents from entering their premises. Meanwhile, immigration lawyers in the area have reported a surge in calls from concerned residents. Taqueria Guerrero, a local restaurant, expressed its stance on social media, stating, “The safety, dignity, and peace of mind of our staff and our community mean more to us than anything. We refuse to operate in a way that puts anyone at risk or adds to the fear that so many are feeling.” This sentiment highlights the community’s resistance to the increased federal presence and the anxiety it brings.

The restaurant closed on November 30 and will remain shuttered for an uncertain amount of time as immigration officials conduct operations around the city. New Orleans has some liberal sanctuary city laws that restrict how local law enforcement can interact with federal immigration officers. Its main jail is known to not work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. There are an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 illegal immigrants residing in Louisiana, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey.

DHS did not confirm or deny the existence of the ‘swamp sweep’ operation when pressed by the Daily Mail’s request for comment. Bovino’s last immigration crackdown in Chicago netted close to 3,200 arrests. ‘Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, you name it… We’re finding and arresting illegal aliens, making these communities safer for the Americans who live there,’ Bovino posted on social media over the weekend.

Still, the Trump administration has failed to hit its lofty goal of one million deportations in its first year. Currently, his administration is on track to hit nearly 600,000 deportations in its first year, though DHS has reported over 1.6 million people have self-deported from the US. Authorities have even offered free flights and $1,000 stipends to illegal migrants in the US to facilitate their travel to their country of origin.