ICE New Orleans Reports 11,000 Deportations In January

The deportation figures highlight the ongoing debate over immigration enforcement and sanctuary cities.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The ICE field office in New Orleans reported making 2,714 arrests, carrying out 10,886 deportations, and recording more than 25 gang-related arrests in January 2026. The high deportation figures have sparked discussion around the impact on housing costs in sanctuary cities and the broader political debate over immigration enforcement.

Why it matters

The deportation figures from ICE New Orleans underscore the Trump administration's efforts to ramp up deportations of undocumented immigrants, which has become a key political issue. Democrats have criticized these efforts and called for abolishing ICE, while Republicans argue the deportations are necessary to protect American citizens and address illegal immigration.

The details

The ICE New Orleans field office reported the January 2026 deportation figures on social media, stating they made 2,714 arrests, carried out 10,886 deportations, and recorded more than 25 gang-related arrests. There was some discussion on social media about whether the deportations amounted to 3% of New Orleans' population, but the National Immigration Center for Enforcement clarified that the deportations processed through the ICE Air hub came from all over the country, not just the New Orleans area.

  • In January 2026, the ICE New Orleans field office reported the deportation figures.

The players

ICE New Orleans

The ICE field office in New Orleans that reported the January 2026 deportation figures.

National Immigration Center for Enforcement

An organization that clarified the deportation figures, stating they came from all over the country and not just the New Orleans area.

President Trump

The president who won a second term on the promise of increasing deportations of undocumented immigrants.

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What they’re saying

“Calling this '3% of New Orleans' misreads how ICE operates (and is a premature mass deportation victory lap). These 10,886 deportations went through the top ICE Air hub, processing illegals from all over. Great, but the scale must continue to be ramped up!”

— National Immigration Center for Enforcement (X)

“These nearly 11,000 deportations weren't just from the New Orleans area, they're from all around the country. ICE New Orleans processes and deports illegal immigrants in Alexandria, LA and receives transfers there from other ICE offices. Big deportation hub.”

— Bill Melugin (Twitter)

What’s next

The Trump administration is expected to continue ramping up deportations of undocumented immigrants as a key policy priority.

The takeaway

The high deportation figures from ICE New Orleans highlight the ongoing political debate over immigration enforcement and the role of sanctuary cities, with the Trump administration pushing for increased deportations while Democrats have criticized these efforts.