WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is planning to deploy about 250 federal border agents to Louisiana and Mississippi aiming to arrest around 5,000 people in the two states, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday, citing documents and three people familiar.
The operation, which is being called “Swamp Sweep,” is expected to begin in early December with a focus on southeastern parts of the states, according to the Associated Press.
The report added the agents, who are expected to arrive in New Orleans on Friday to begin staging equipment and vehicles, will spread out across neighborhoods and commercial hubs stretching from New Orleans through Jefferson, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes and as far north as Baton Rouge.
DHS declined a Reuters request to comment on the operation.
“Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country,” Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said.
Spokespeople for Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The New Orleans Police Department said on Tuesday that its Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick will meet with representatives from U.S. Border Patrol this week.
The planned expansion to Louisiana and Mississippi will take place against the backdrop of an aggressive immigration crackdown by the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump has already deployed federal immigration officers to Los Angeles, Chicago and most recently Charlotte.
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan told Fox News earlier on Tuesday that there are plans to increase enforcement operations in New York City.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward; editing by Scott Malone and Sonali Paul)
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