Key facts
- The Louisiana National Guard is ending its eight-month deployment in New Orleans.
- The remaining 120 troops will be withdrawn by August 31.
- The deployment was authorized by President Donald Trump.
- Governor Jeff Landry requested the deployment to boost public safety in the French Quarter.
- Troops conducted over 4,000 patrols and assisted in 171 arrests.
The Louisiana National Guard is concluding an eight-month deployment aimed at enhancing public safety in New Orleans' French Quarter. The remaining 120 troops completed their final patrol on Monday and are scheduled to withdraw by August 31.
The mission, initially involving 350 troops and launched in late December to bolster security following a deadly attack on Bourbon Street the previous year, was extended beyond Mardi Gras. Governor Jeff Landry requested the deployment, which was authorized by President Donald Trump, who has initiated similar National Guard missions in other cities.
During their deployment, the National Guard conducted over 4,000 patrols and assisted law enforcement in 171 arrests, primarily in the tourist-heavy French Quarter. Mayor Helena Moreno, who initially opposed the deployment, expressed gratitude for the troops' service.
Governor Landry stated that the mission provided valuable readiness training for the soldiers, even as data from the city's police department indicates a general decline in violent crime in New Orleans over recent years, mirroring national trends.