Trump suggests National Guard deployment to NOLA: State and Local Leaders respond

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Amid concerns that President Trump may deploy National Guard troops to New Orleans, local policymakers are expressing their views.

New Orleans City Councilman at-large, JP Morrell says federal intervention should remain in its traditional sense, such as the National Guard’s deployment in situations like disaster response. Morrell says he questions the legality of anything further.

“Under the Posse Comitatus Act, it’s actually illegal to deploy the National Guard to do law enforcement activities,” said Morrel at the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation annual fundraiser.

New Orleans Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick has remained politically neutral throughout public discussions of the Trump Administration’s military deployment as a crime deterrent.

Kirkpatrick explains that she wants to avoid ‘politicizing’ policing — but welcomes a multiple-agency approach if its approval goes through the proper channels.

“It would be my preference not to be ‘taken over’, but I think if we could all come to a conversation. If that is the desire of our governor, our president, and our mayor, our community,” said Kirkpatrick. “I’m here just to provide public safety.”

When it comes to obtaining approval from state and local leadership, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser echoes the same sentiment.

“I think law enforcement efforts between the governor’s office and the attorney general with troop NOLA have already had a positive effect,” said Nungessor.

Some say stationing National Guard soldiers in New Orleans could have a result similar Washington, DC; triggering trouble for the city’s tourism economy.

“For our hospitality industry, it would crater not just the city’s budget, but it would crater the state’s budget because that also receives sales tax from the city of New Orleans,” said Morrell.

The head of Louisiana’s Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism himself feels that tourists would benefit in the area of safety. Proposing one suggestion.

“Bring our troops home from D.C.,” said Nungesser. “If we’re going to deploy the National Guard, let it be Louisiana people.”

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