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Helena Moreno Sworn In as New Orleans Mayor, First Latina to Lead City

She enters office following a federal immigration sweep, with a probe of her predecessor ongoing.

Overview

  • Former Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath and lauded Moreno as a capable, tough leader.
  • In her inaugural remarks, Moreno highlighted New Orleans as a welcoming, multicultural city and pointed to her own bilingual, binational background.
  • Her swearing-in follows December’s Department of Homeland Security operation in the city known as Catahoula Crunch, underscoring federal–local friction over immigration enforcement.
  • Moreno succeeds LaToya Cantrell, who faces a federal investigation into an alleged fraud scheme involving city funds and properties, as reported by local and national outlets.
  • Authorities reported 121 homicides in 2025, the lowest in about five decades with a 3% annual decline, setting a public safety baseline for the new administration.