President Donald Trump announced that National Guard troops will soon be deployed to New Orleans following a request from Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who asked for up to 1,000 troops to address crime and bolster law enforcement capacity. While Landry, a Trump ally, has welcomed federal intervention and a separate Border Patrol-led immigration crackdown, critics argue the move is unnecessary given that New Orleans is on track for one of its safest years since the 1970s, despite a recent uptick in homicides. The city, once labeled the nation’s “murder capital” in 2022, has seen sharp declines in shootings, carjackings, and robberies, with 97 murders reported as of early November. Mayor-elect Helena Moreno opposes the deployment, citing concerns over civil rights, while outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell has expressed openness to federal collaboration despite facing corruption charges.