National Guard arrives for Bayou Classic security
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Louisiana State Police and the National Guard staff a checkpoint on Bourbon Street during the Super Bowl in February 2025. Photo: David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Louisiana National Guard is in town this week to help with security for Bayou Classic festivities.
Why it matters: They won't be part of immigration enforcement efforts, New Orleans police say.
The big picture: About 200,000 people are expected to visit this week for the 52nd annual showdown between Grambling State University and Southern University.
- NOPD is deploying more than 400 officers downtown, plus drones, assistant superintendent Hans Ganthier told the crowd at Monday's kickoff ceremony.
- The Louisiana National Guard will have about 100 soldiers downtown, guard leadership tells Axios.
- Louisiana State Police is also bringing in extra personnel on top of Troop NOLA patrols, Col. Robert Hodges tells Axios. Wildlife and Fisheries agents will help too.
Yes, but: Ganthier acknowledged some residents "may have concerns about the National Guard's presence in the city."
- "We want to be clear that the National Guard is not here for immigration enforcement, but for visibility, public safety and the support of the NOPD," Ganthier said.
- "They will be deployed in the same capacity as they were for Mardi Gras, Super Bowl and Sugar Bowl earlier this year," he added.
- The guardsmen are from Louisiana and are not part of a federal deployment, officials say.
Between the lines: Border Patrol agents began arriving Friday and are expected to begin Operation Swamp Sweep on Dec. 1, according to the AP.
- They aim to make about 5,000 immigration-related arrests in south Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Gov. Jeff Landry also requested in September that President Trump send in the National Guard to combat crime in New Orleans, but there haven't been any public updates since.
Zoom in: The National Guard and Louisiana State Police will implement an enhanced security zone in the French Quarter from Friday through Sunday, according to an LSP statement.
- Law enforcement will have checkpoints and will be doing bag checks, as they did during Super Bowl LIX and Mardi Gras.
- Ice chests and non-emergency vehicles are banned.
- The zone is from Canal Street to St. Ann Street between Royal and Dauphine streets, LSP says. See the map.
Zoom out: New Orleans officials have doubled down on safety measures since the New Year's Day terrorist attack.
- NOPD spokesman Reese Harper says they plan to use a similar combined-agency strategy for the Sugar Bowl and during Mardi Gras next year.
- Chief administrative officer Joe Threat previously welcomed the help from the Louisiana National Guard, citing financial savings for the city.
- Special events usually require NOPD overtime costs, but Threat told the City Council at a recent meeting that National Guard deployment may help with that.
Events this week
If you go: The Bayou Classic has several events before Saturday's big game.
🎉 The parade rolls at 3pm Thursday from the Caesars Superdome. (Route)
🛍️ Business at Bayou Classic is a business expo on Friday at the Hyatt Regency where visitors can shop from small Black businesses.
🎶 Beats Before Battle is a free event Friday at the Superdome with a high-school drumline battle and a DJ spinning tunes.
🥁 Battle of the Bands and Greek Show on Friday features Grambling's and Southern's marching bands. (Tickets)
🤩 The fan festival is free Saturday in Champions Square. 2Chainz headlines. (Lineup)
🏈 The Bayou Classic game kicks off at 1pm Saturday in the Superdome. (Tickets)