DHS Initiates Major Immigration Enforcement Operation in Louisiana and Mississippi: ‘Swamp Sweep’

Federal agents are gearing up for a massive immigration operation across Louisiana and Mississippi, with approximately 250 border agents expected to deploy in a coordinated effort to arrest nearly 5,000 individuals. The two-month initiative, dubbed “Swamp Sweep,” is scheduled to begin December 1, focusing heavily on southeastern Louisiana, according to internal documents and sources familiar with the operation cited by The Associated Press.

This deployment represents one of the Trump administration’s largest single-state immigration enforcement actions to date. Agents are expected to begin arriving in New Orleans as early as Friday to position equipment and vehicles before spreading throughout the region.

The operation will cover a significant geographic area, extending from New Orleans through Jefferson, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany parishes, and reaching northward toward Baton Rouge. Additional enforcement activities are planned for southeastern Mississippi, though specific details about these operations remain limited.

When contacted about the operation, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin declined to provide specific details, stating, “For the safety and security of law enforcement we’re not going to telegraph potential operations.”

Both Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Republicans who have previously supported President Trump’s immigration policies, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the pending operation in their states.

The planned deployment aligns with previous statements from both governors. In August, Governor Reeves announced he had “approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump’s effort to return law and order to our nation’s capital.” Similarly, in May, Governor Landry highlighted a partnership with “the federal government to crack down on criminal illegal aliens in the great State of Louisiana.”

This expansion into Louisiana and Mississippi represents a significant escalation in the administration’s nationwide immigration enforcement strategy. In recent months, federal immigration officers have been deployed to major urban centers across the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and most recently, Charlotte, North Carolina.

Immigration enforcement has been a cornerstone of the Trump administration’s domestic policy since the president took office in January. The administration has consistently emphasized its focus on removing individuals in the country illegally, particularly those with criminal records or outstanding deportation orders.

White House Border Czar Tom Homan indicated in a statement earlier Tuesday that the administration is preparing to extend similar operations to New York City, suggesting a broadening national enforcement strategy. Homan, who previously led Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term, has been instrumental in implementing the president’s immigration enforcement vision.

The operation comes as the administration continues to focus on border security and immigration enforcement as central policy priorities. Critics of these large-scale operations have expressed concerns about their impact on immigrant communities, including potential family separations and effects on local economies, while supporters view them as necessary enforcement of existing immigration laws.

Local community organizations in the targeted regions are reportedly preparing for the potential impact of these operations, with some advocacy groups mobilizing to provide legal resources and information to affected communities.

As the operation’s December 1 start date approaches, federal authorities continue preparations while maintaining operational security around specific enforcement tactics and targets. The coming weeks will likely see increased attention on immigration enforcement activities across the Gulf Coast region as “Swamp Sweep” gets underway.