NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) – A National Guard deployment in New Orleans, authorized by President Donald Trump, is set to begin on Tuesday as part of enhanced security measures for New Year’s celebrations. This heightened security comes in the wake of a tragic incident last year when an attack on revelers on Bourbon Street resulted in 14 fatalities.

The National Guard’s deployment aligns with previous high-profile missions initiated by the Trump administration in other cities, such as Washington D.C. and Memphis, Tennessee. However, the presence of National Guard troops in New Orleans is not uncommon. They have previously supported security efforts during major events like the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

New Orleans police spokesperson, Reese Harper, stated that the deployment is consistent with historical practices aimed at ensuring public safety. "It’s no different than what we’ve seen in the past,” Harper noted. Alongside the National Guard, other federal law enforcement agencies are currently active in the city, conducting an immigration crackdown that reportedly resulted in several hundred arrests throughout the month.

Harper clarified that the National Guard would not be involved in immigration enforcement. “This is for visibility and just really to keep our citizens safe,” he explained, adding that the National Guard serves as “another tool in the toolbox and another layer of security.” The troops will primarily focus their efforts within the French Quarter, a popular tourist area, where they will engage in a presence similar to their patrols following the vehicle-ramming attack on January 1 of the previous year.

The deployment will consist of 350 National Guard members who will remain in the city through the Carnival season, which draws numerous residents and tourists for festive celebrations and large parades leading up to Mardi Gras in mid-February. Lt. Col. Noel Collins of the Louisiana National Guard issued a statement indicating that the deployment aims to enhance local, state, and federal law enforcement capabilities to stabilize the environment, reduce crime, and restore public trust.

In total, over 800 local, state, and federal law enforcement officials will be on duty in New Orleans. Their responsibilities will include closing off Bourbon Street to vehicle traffic, patrolling the area, conducting bag searches, and redirecting traffic, as outlined by city officials during a news conference on Monday.

The initiative to bolster security in New Orleans has gained some bipartisan support, including from Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who expressed her appreciation for the added resources. This increase in law enforcement presence comes one year after a violent attack carried out by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who drove through a police blockade and struck individuals celebrating New Year’s Day. Jabbar, an Army veteran and U.S. citizen who had expressed support for the Islamic State on social media, was ultimately shot dead by police following the crash. An extensive search revealed multiple undetonated bombs in the vicinity of the French Quarter.

In the aftermath of last year's attack, 100 National Guard members were deployed to the city. In September, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry requested the deployment of 1,000 troops to various Louisiana cities, citing escalating crime concerns. This request faced opposition from local Democratic leaders who argued that crime rates in the city had notably decreased in recent years.

— Cline reported from Baton Rouge.