NEW ORLEANS – As part of a heightened security strategy for New Year’s festivities, President Donald Trump has authorized the deployment of the National Guard in New Orleans, commencing Tuesday. This decision follows a tragic incident last year when an attack on Bourbon Street resulted in 14 fatalities, officials announced Monday.

This deployment in New Orleans mirrors similar initiatives by the Trump administration in cities like Washington and Memphis, Tennessee. However, the presence of the National Guard is not a new sight for New Orleans residents; earlier this year, the troops were instrumental in enhancing security during major events like the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras.

“This is consistent with previous measures,” stated Reese Harper, a spokesperson for the New Orleans police. “Their role is not related to immigration enforcement. The Guardsmen are here to provide an additional layer of security and visibility, ensuring the safety of our citizens. It’s simply another measure to enhance public safety.”

The Guardsmen will primarily focus their efforts on the French Quarter, a bustling area favored by tourists, and will not participate in immigration duties, Harper added. Their presence will mirror earlier deployments this year, which followed the devastating vehicle-ramming incident on January 1.

A total of 350 National Guard members are set to be stationed in New Orleans throughout the festive Carnival season. This period attracts both locals and visitors who come to enjoy the vibrant parades and celebrations leading up to Mardi Gras, which concludes in mid-February.

Louisiana National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Noel Collins said in a written statement that the Guard will support local, state, and federal law enforcement “to enhance capabilities, stabilize the environment, assist in reducing crime, and restoring public trust.”

In total, more than 800 local, state and federal law enforcement officials will be deployed in New Orleans to close off Bourbon Street to vehicular traffic, patrol the area, conduct bag searches and redirect traffic, city officials said during a news conference Monday.

The increased law enforcement presence comes a year after Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove around a police blockade in the early hours of Jan. 1 and raced down Bourbon Street, plowing into people celebrating New Year’s Day. The attacker, a U.S. citizen and Army veteran who had proclaimed his support for the Islamic State militant group on social media, was fatally shot by police after crashing. After an expansive search, law enforcement located multiple bombs in coolers placed around the French Quarter. None of the explosive devices detonated.

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, 100 National Guard members were sent to the city.

In September, Gov. Jeff Landry asked Trump to send 1,000 troops to Louisiana cities, citing concerns about crime. Democrats pushed back, specifically leaders in New Orleans who said a deployment was unwarranted. They argued that the city has actually seen a dramatic decrease in violent crime rates in recent years.

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Cline reported from Baton Rouge.