Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Federal Lawmakers and DHS Press Nashville Mayor Over ICE Arrests Criticism

They allege he shielded criminal migrants over residents, prompting calls for a Justice Department investigation.

A Department of Homeland Security building is seen Friday, May 9, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Mayor Freddie O'Connell speaks during a Rotary Club of Nashville meeting Monday, June 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Mayor Freddie O'Connell speaks with members of the Rotary Club of Nashville, Monday, June 2, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 7: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) speaks during a news conference about the confirmation vote for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson at the U.S. Capitol on April 7, 2022 in Washington, DC. The full Senate voted today to confirm the nomination of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson with a vote of 53-47. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Overview

  • ICE arrested 196 people during a weeklong operation in Nashville in May, including 95 individuals with criminal convictions or pending charges.
  • Mayor Freddie O’Connell condemned the raids as traumatic for immigrant families and supported a charity fund for those affected.
  • House Republicans led by Rep. Andy Ogles have launched a formal probe into O’Connell’s executive order and requested his office’s communications and policy documents.
  • The Department of Homeland Security asserts the mayor prioritized criminal migrants over public safety, accusing him of shielding gang members.
  • Sen. Marsha Blackburn has officially urged the Justice Department to investigate O’Connell’s actions in response to the enforcement effort.