Immigration sweeps by U.S. Border Patrol agents did not launch Monday as expected in south Louisiana, and officials have stayed tight-lipped about the scope and timeline of their plans.

Still, despite rain and chilly temperatures, about 100 people rallied Monday evening in downtown New Orleans to protest the impending immigration raids.

Draped in raincoats, carrying signs and huddled under umbrellas, they gathered around the Henry Clay statue in the middle of Lafayette Square as speakers from the immigrant advocacy group Union Migrante, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization and others shouted opposition against the planned federal operation.

A man standing under the statue waved a black banner emblazoned with the word "resist."

"No to federal occupation," the demonstrators chanted.

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