Nashville Mayor BACKLASH – ICE Crackdown Sparks Fury!
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell strengthens local communication networks to counter federal immigration enforcement, but the implications of this effort remain contentious.
At a Glance
- Mayor O’Connell signed an executive order for police to inform the “Office of New Americans” about ICE activities.
- O’Connell criticized ICE traffic stops in South Nashville as an “act of terror.”
- The updated order mandates communication between federal agencies and city departments.
- The mayor aims to protect Nashville and align with similar national initiatives.
Nashville’s Response to Federal Immigration Actions
Mayor Freddie O’Connell has signed an executive order that requires Nashville’s police department to report Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities to the city’s “Office of New Americans.” This directive is a response to a significant ICE operation in South Nashville where over 100 individuals were detained, leading to strong criticism from the mayor.
O’Connell described the recent ICE operation as a frightening scenario for local residents and an unwarranted act against the Nashville community. He revised executive order 30, thus enhancing communication between federal immigration enforcement and city departments, so that Nashville can remain informed and prepared.
Federal Operations Versus Local Values
O’Connell’s actions echo similar measures taken by Democratic leaders nationwide, such as Massachusetts’ Governor Maura Healy, who instituted a hotline for alerting communities about ICE operations. These initiatives are designed to empower localities against what they regard as excessive or unhelpful federal enforcement strategies.
“The Nashville Mayor should want these criminal illegal aliens off American streets. Attacks 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.” – DHS.
O’Connell’s criticism of ICE included labeling them “terrorists” while referring to detainees as Nashville “citizens.” He expressed concern that federal actions undermine local values and public safety, emphasizing that no Nashville police were involved in recent ICE arrests.
A City Divided
The revision of the executive order attempts to fill a communication gap that left the local community feeling vulnerable during federal operations. Despite this, the Tennessee Highway Patrol conducted a series of traffic stops leading to the detentions, which O’Connell asserted the city did not support.
“I wanna be clear. We did not request this approach to safety, we do not support it. It’s important for us to get this right and it’s very frustrating to see a failure in the process.” – O’Connell.
The move O’Connell has made is part of a broader strategy to assert local governance over Nashville’s diverse population. However, the Division of Law, led by Wally Dietz, clarified that local authorities must comply with federal directives and cannot oppose ICE operations or their cooperation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
