The federal government will soon target New Orleans as its next city to step up immigration enforcement, sources with knowledge of the plans told ABC News.
At least 200 border patrol agents are expected to arrive in the city in the coming weeks, according to the source, who noted that plans are preliminary and could change.
Greg Bovino, a roving Border Patrol operations commander leading U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the area, and federal agents patrol the Little Village neighborhood during immigration raids, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence to assist in crime prevention, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., November 6, 2025. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska
Jim Vondruska/Reuters
The pending buildup of agents comes two weeks after Border Patrol and other federal agencies increased their presence in Charlotte, North Carolina, and made more than 250 arrests.
Greg Bovino, commanding general of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), personally oversaw that effort and is expected to lead the troop surge in New Orleans, the sources said.
Bovino teased the “next level” of immigration enforcement in an X post on Saturday, but didn’t say where.
“Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen, immigration enforcement is going to the next level,” he said.
Greg Bovino, a roving Border Patrol operations commander leading President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in the area, and federal agents patrol the Little Village neighborhood during immigration raids in Chicago, Nov. 6, 2025.
Jim Vondruska/Reuters
Although Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, has supported proposals for a federal surge and called for the National Guard to be deployed to his state, schools and businesses have been preparing for a larger federal presence.
A sign indicating no access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is displayed inside a business amid reports that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to deploy about 250 federal border agents to Louisiana in the coming days, in New Orleans, Nov. 28, 2025.
Seth Herald/Reuters
Several schools have sent warnings to parents and teachers in anticipation of the increased federal presence, and some are offering free transportation to school, according to Nola.com.
