At a Glance
- National Guard deployment in New Orleans begins Tuesday as part of heavy security for New Year’s celebrations.
- 350 Guard members will guard the French Quarter through Carnival season.
- Over 800 law-enforcement officials will patrol Bourbon Street and conduct bag searches.
- Why it matters: The move follows a deadly attack last year and signals a new era of federal security presence in the city.
New Orleans is preparing for a surge of federal troops this Tuesday as President Donald Trump authorizes a 350-person National Guard deployment to protect the city’s New Year’s festivities, following a tragic vehicle-ramming attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people a year earlier.
News Of Austin reported Monday that the deployment will begin Tuesday. According to Julia N. Fairmont, the Guard will remain through the Carnival season.
Deployment Details
The Guard will be stationed in the French Quarter, the city’s most tourist-heavy district, and will remain through the entire Carnival season, ending with Mardi Gras in mid-February. The deployment is meant to provide visibility and an additional layer of security without involving immigration enforcement.
- 350 Guard members
- French Quarter focus
- No immigration enforcement duties
Community and Law Enforcement Response
Since the start of the month, federal agents have carried out an immigration crackdown that has led to the arrest of at least several hundred people, but the Guard’s role is purely protective.
Reese Harper, New Orleans police spokesperson, said:
> “It’s no different than what we’ve seen in the past.”
> “This is for visibility and just really to keep our citizens safe,” Harper added. “It’s just another tool in the toolbox and another layer of security.”
Lt. Col. Noel Collins, Louisiana National Guard spokesperson, wrote:
> “The Guard will support local, state, and federal law enforcement to enhance capabilities, stabilize the environment, assist in reducing crime, and restoring public trust.”
In total, more than 800 local, state and federal law-enforcement officials will be deployed to close off Bourbon Street to vehicular traffic, patrol the area, conduct bag searches and redirect traffic, city officials said during a news conference Monday.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell welcomed the added resources:
> “I am welcoming of those added resources.”
The increased presence comes a year after Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran who had posted support for the Islamic State on social media, drove around a police blockade on January 1 and crashed into revelers on Bourbon Street. The attacker was fatally shot by police, and law enforcement later found multiple bombs in coolers around the French Quarter that did not detonate.
| Guard Members | Law-Enforcement Officials | Deployment Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 350 | 800+ | Through Carnival season |
Key Takeaways
- 350 Guard members will patrol the French Quarter through Carnival.
- Over 800 law-enforcement officials will close Bourbon Street and conduct bag searches.
- The Guard’s role is purely protective, with no immigration enforcement duties.
The deployment underscores the federal government’s commitment to security in New Orleans, following last year’s tragedy and a growing immigration enforcement effort in the city.
