Trump Deploys More National Guard Members
The Trump administration is reinforcing public safety efforts in New Orleans with the deployment of approximately 350 National Guard troops ahead of the New Year, continuing a broader federal push focused on law enforcement support and border security.
According to a spokesman for the Department of War, the Guard members will assist federal agencies including the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Their mission will center on operational and logistical support rather than direct policing, consistent with previous National Guard deployments in major U.S. cities. The troops are expected to remain in place through February.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry praised Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for coordinating the effort, calling it a necessary step to strengthen law and order.
“This is about helping law enforcement and protecting innocent citizens,” Landry said. “The added presence will help us continue pushing back against violence in New Orleans and across Louisiana.”
Some critics have argued the National Guard deployment is unnecessary, citing recent declines in violent crime. However, supporters counter that preventative security measures are critical during periods of large public gatherings and heightened risk, especially following recent terror-related incidents.
The Guard deployment coincides with an ongoing immigration enforcement operation led by U.S. Border Patrol in the Democrat-led city. Federal officials say several hundred arrests have already been made during the early phase of the operation, which is expected to last for months and has a target of up to 5,000 arrests nationwide.
Governor Landry previously requested federal assistance in September, seeking as many as 1,000 federally funded troops to help address public safety concerns. He has also publicly supported President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard units to other cities, including Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.
While New Orleans has seen a downward trend in homicides this year, concerns about security remain. Preliminary police data shows 97 homicides as of November 1, marking one of the lowest totals in decades. However, that figure includes 14 deaths tied to a deadly New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street that shocked the nation.
The attack was carried out by a U.S. Army veteran who used a pickup truck bearing an Islamic State flag to evade police barriers and plow into a large crowd before being fatally shot by law enforcement. City data shows New Orleans recorded 124 homicides in 2024, following 193 killings in 2023.
New Orleans has relied on National Guard assistance before. Earlier this year, Guard members were deployed following the New Year’s Day attack, and troops have also provided security during major events such as Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.
Supporters of the latest deployment argue the Trump administration’s strategy reflects a proactive approach to public safety—one that prioritizes border enforcement, crime prevention, and the protection of American communities as the country heads into a high-traffic holiday period.
