Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Democrat, said he was “deeply concerned” about immigration raids recently conducted in the city.
“Our top priority is keeping people safe, and we’re deeply concerned that what appear to be federal actions are making that harder,” O’Connell wrote in a letter this week. “Overnight, we understand that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents detained people during enforcement actions in Middle Tennessee. As we learn more, I want to be clear: No [Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD)] personnel were involved in last night’s enforcement action.”
“This type of federal enforcement action is not focused on making us safer and leaves people in our community fearing any interaction with law enforcement when there is a crime occurring,” he added. “We will be seeking the names of those detained.”
DHS said the immigration operation included the arrest of a “convicted child sex predator, a member of Tren de Aragua, an individual convicted of aggravated assault, and multiple aliens with drug charges.
“The Nashville Mayor should want these criminal illegal aliens off American streets,” the Department said, noting that “[a]ttacks and demonization of our brave law enforcement is wrong. ICE officers are now facing a 413% increase in assaults.”
“President Trump campaigned on immigration enforcement, the American people voted for it, and DHS is delivering.”
Lindsay Williams, ICE media operations unit chief, told The Tennesseean in an emailed statement, “Protecting the safety and security of our communities remains a top priority for ICE. As part of our ongoing mission to uphold U.S. immigration laws, our targeted enforcement operations are specifically focused on individuals who threaten public safety or national security.”
