Federal Agents Launch New Orleans Immigration Operation: Swamp Sweep

(New Orleans) Federal agents launched a major immigration enforcement operation in New Orleans on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, kicking off what officials describe as a months-long push to arrest thousands of people across southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi. Dubbed “Swamp Sweep,” the campaign is part of President Trump’s broader mass deportation drive and is expected to involve door-to-door arrests, workplace visits, and coordinated actions with state and local law enforcement.

Operation overview and leadership

Planning documents reviewed by advocates and described in local media say Swamp Sweep is designed to arrest 5,000 people, relying on about 250 Department of Homeland Security agents deployed to the region.

• The operation is led by Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, who previously oversaw aggressive crackdowns in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Civil rights groups have expressed concern that tactics used in those cities will now appear on the streets of New Orleans.

Official justification and target population

Homeland Security Department Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the immigration enforcement operation will center on people accused of violent crimes who were released from local custody after arrests for offenses including home invasion, armed robbery, and rape.

“Sanctuary policies endanger American communities by releasing illegal criminal aliens and forcing DHS law enforcement to risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens that should have never been put back on the streets,” McLaughlin said in a written statement defending Swamp Sweep.

Context: “Sanctuary” designation and local policies

New Orleans is one of 18 cities that the Department of Justice has labeled “sanctuary” jurisdictions, accusing local leaders of undermining federal immigration efforts. City officials say their policies are meant to build trust with residents by keeping the New Orleans Police Department focused on criminal matters and treating immigration enforcement as a civil responsibility of the federal government.

The city jail, which is run separately from federal immigration authorities, generally does not hold people past their release dates for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, unless a judge orders it. That policy has drawn sharp criticism from President Trump and his allies, who argue that local officials should keep suspects in custody for pickup by federal agents.

State and federal coordination

Republican Governor Jeff Landry, a close Trump ally who has made crime and immigration central themes of his administration, welcomed Swamp Sweep and framed it as a targeted strike rather than a dragnet. He said the operation would focus on “the worst of the worst, criminal illegal aliens that have broken the law,” and announced that National Guard members are expected to arrive in New Orleans before Christmas to join broader crime-fighting efforts.

• Louisiana State Police troopers and local FBI agents will work alongside federal immigration teams.
• State officials say their role is to protect federal officers and prevent any attempts to block arrests.

Local reaction: communities, businesses, and legal services

Immigration lawyers across the city said they have been flooded with calls from worried residents since word of the operation first surfaced. Common concerns include:

• How to prepare for possible workplace checks or home visits
• Designating emergency contacts if a family member is detained
• Gathering documents in case a parent or spouse is taken into custody

A number of businesses in New Orleans with large immigrant workforces have already posted signs stating that federal agents may not enter without a warrant, according to local attorneys. Some employers quietly adjusted schedules or allowed workers to stay home on the first day of Swamp Sweep, fearing that a visible show of force could drive customers away and traumatize staff.

Protesters gathered outside federal buildings and in city squares, holding banners that condemned what they described as a mass deportation plan that will tear families apart. Organizers urged local officials to do more to shield residents who are not accused of any crime and pressed the City Council to reaffirm that New Orleans will not help carry out immigration arrests.

Concerns from advocates and historical patterns

While federal officials insist that people with serious criminal records are the priority, past operations have sometimes swept up parents, factory workers, and day laborers whose only offense was entering the country without papers. Advocates point to those histories as they warn that Swamp Sweep could disrupt schools, churches, and workplaces across southeast Louisiana well beyond the individuals named in federal files.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, large-scale enforcement actions under the Trump administration have often continued for weeks after the initial headline, with agents returning to the same neighborhoods multiple times. That pattern has left many mixed-status families — where some members are citizens and others lack legal status — living in fear of routine activities like driving to work or taking children to medical appointments.

Legal guidance and community resources

Legal groups are urging residents to learn their rights, including the ability to remain silent and to ask officers to show a warrant signed by a judge before entering a home. National organizations have shared online toolkits, while local attorneys have circulated Know Your Rights flyers in Spanish and Vietnamese around New Orleans neighborhoods with large immigrant populations.

• Key recommended actions for residents:
  1. Learn and note your legal rights (remain silent; request a warrant).
  2. Designate emergency contacts and share their information with family members.
  3. Gather and store important documents in a secure, accessible place.
  4. Keep contact information for local immigration attorneys and legal aid groups.

Operational details and public information

Federal officials have offered few details about how long the campaign will last or whether they plan to expand it beyond the initial goal of 5,000 arrests. A spokesperson pointed residents to general information on ICE operations available on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, saying they could not discuss operational plans in real time for safety reasons.

Quick facts table

Human impact and community atmosphere

For families directly affected, the start of Swamp Sweep turns normal routines into a series of careful choices. Parents may wonder whether it is safe to send children to school or answer an unexpected knock at the door, even if no one in the household has been accused of a crime.

Community groups in New Orleans that work with immigrants say past enforcement waves have led people to avoid hospitals, public events, and even church services, worried that any public space could become a checkpoint. That kind of fear can spread quickly through close-knit neighborhoods, especially when official information is limited and rumors fill the gap.

Important: Residents seeking operational information were directed to ICE’s website: https://www.ice.gov. Federal officials say they will not discuss operational plans in real time for safety reasons.