Tennessee Highway Patrol joins ICE for major Nashville Operation

Key Takeaways

• THP and ICE’s Nashville Operation led to 588 traffic stops and 196 arrests between May 3-17, 2025.
• About 95 of those arrested had prior criminal records; 31 had previously been deported and reentered illegally.
• Community groups report increased fear and tension, with calls for transparency from Mayor O’Connell and immigrant advocates.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE’s Joint Nashville Operation: Approach, Impacts, and Community Response

The Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) has launched a new partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), drawing attention and sparking debate across Tennessee. Starting May 3, 2025, THP and ICE began a large-scale enforcement operation in Nashville, with hundreds of traffic stops and nearly two hundred arrests over two weeks. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this move marks a wider effort by state and federal officials to step up immigration enforcement in Tennessee and may signal what’s ahead for other states.

Let’s take a close look at how the Nashville Operation unfolded, the results and reactions, and what it may mean for immigrants, law enforcement, and local communities.

What Sparked the Operation in Nashville?

THP’s new immigration efforts are part of a federal plan called the 287(g) program. This program lets federal agents, like those from ICE, work closely with state and local officers, giving them power to carry out certain immigration duties. In Tennessee, this means THP, which is usually focused on highway safety, is now helping ICE with immigration enforcement in some cases.

Governor Bill Lee has been clear about his reasons. In his words: “We want to be a partner with ICE and the federal government to remove criminals from the streets. So when they reached out to us, we were ready to coordinate with them.” This reflects his months-long push for tougher measures against people who are in the country unlawfully, especially those considered “public safety threats.”

The move also lines up with a recently signed law creating a new unit for immigration enforcement within Tennessee’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security—a first for the state.

How Did the Nashville Operation Work?

The operation lasted around two weeks and took place in the Nashville area, using both state troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Here’s what happened, step by step:

• THP set up patrols and traffic stops, especially in areas where ICE said there were likely people without legal status.
• If THP stopped a driver who could not show legal papers, ICE agents were called to the scene.
• ICE decided whether the person should be arrested and, in some cases, placed them in deportation proceedings.

The numbers show just how large the effort was:

• Roughly 588 traffic stops were made by Tennessee Highway Patrol during the Nashville Operation.
• ICE reported 196 arrests linked to the operation.
• Out of those arrested, 95 had previous criminal records or pending charges.
• 31 people arrested had already been deported before but had reentered the United States without permission.

The stated goal from ICE, according to Brian Acuna, acting ERO New Orleans Field Office Director, was to increase “safety and security” in Tennessee by finding and removing “individuals who pose a threat.”

High-Profile Arrests: The Cases ICE Highlighted

ICE released details on some of the arrests, saying these cases proved why the operation was needed. A few examples are:

• A 37-year-old Venezuelan national described as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang.
• A 33-year-old citizen from El Salvador linked to the MS-13 gang, with past drug convictions and an active “Red Notice”—an international alert—related to murder charges.
• A 39-year-old from Mexico with six past cases of being deported and criminal convictions for domestic violence and sexual abuse involving a minor.
• A 60-year-old from Iraq who was convicted of rape.

These examples were used to show that the operation targeted people ICE and THP consider threats to public safety. Many parts of the community, though, have asked about the other arrests—those with little or no criminal history.

Community Reactions: Fears, Accusations, and Advocacy

While officials focused their statements on safety, the Nashville Operation quickly sparked sharp reactions and deep worries:

• Advocates and some neighborhood leaders accused THP and ICE of racial profiling. That’s when authorities seem to only focus on certain groups based on race or background—in this case, mostly Latino neighborhoods.
• Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell voiced concern over the lack of information and called on ICE to release a full list of those arrested, including names and charges. His worry points to a larger debate about local governments’ role in federal enforcement.
• Spanish-speaking Catholic churches in Nashville noticed more empty seats, with parishioners too scared to leave home, according to local reports from nashvillebanner.com. This echoes a growing sense of fear throughout the city’s immigrant population.
• Community organizations like MusicCityMigraWatch began patrolling and observing law enforcement, hoping to protect residents from unfair treatment and gather details about arrests.

Some local immigrant support groups reported they had to scramble to comfort families who feared being separated or deported. Meanwhile, critics warn that such operations harm the trust between police and immigrant communities, making people less likely to call for help or report crimes in the future.

Reports of Racial Profiling

One of the biggest sources of controversy has been the allegation that many stops and arrests were based not just on suspected status, but on racial or ethnic appearance. Spanish-speaking communities, particularly those with roots in Latin America, said they felt they were being singled out.

THP and ICE have denied any wrongdoing, stating that all enforcement was legal and targeted those with public safety risks. Still, as operations like this one often lack full transparency, worries have grown among both immigrants and long-time residents.

Mayor O’Connell’s demand for more information is just one sign that the debate is far from settled. He’s asked ICE for details about who was arrested, for what reasons, and what happens next—a request echoed by advocacy groups who want to ensure basic rights are respected.

The Federal 287(g) Program: Key Details

The federal 287(g) program that enabled the Nashville Operation has been around for years but expanded recently. Here’s what it does in simple terms:

• Allows local police and state troopers to act in some ways like ICE agents when dealing with immigration issues.
• Gives these officers training from ICE and access to federal databases.
• Focuses on detaining and removing people who are in the U.S. without legal status, especially those with criminal backgrounds.

In this case, Tennessee Highway Patrol officers received the extra authority after joining the 287(g) program. This partnership is meant to help ICE extend its reach, but it also brings more scrutiny from the public and civil rights lawyers who ask if local police should be drawn into federal immigration battles.

For more about ICE’s programs and immigration enforcement, readers can find detailed official information here at the ICE’s official program overview.

Statewide and National Trends: Is This the Future?

The joint Nashville Operation didn’t happen by accident—it matches a growing trend in some states. For example, similar ICE-State Police operations have taken place in Florida, with 1,120 immigration arrests recently reported there. Tennessee’s governor promises more such measures through the new immigration enforcement division.

This emerging pattern raises questions about:

• Whether rolling out similar efforts in other cities or states could become more common.
• How these programs affect immigrant communities—sometimes driving people further “underground,” afraid to report crimes or seek medical care.
• What role local police should play in enforcing federal law—an issue debated for decades in the U.S.

Advocacy groups and civil rights organizations argue that local involvement in federal enforcement, especially traffic stops turned immigration investigations, can break trust and lead to targeting of minorities.

Wider Community Consequences

With enforcement heating up, some effects reach beyond arrests and courtrooms:

• Businesses—especially those owned by immigrants—see fewer customers, as people worry about being stopped on their way to work.
• Children miss school as parents keep them at home for safety.
• Hospitals report some patients are skipping care out of fear of being noticed.

This ripple effect makes clear that immigration enforcement isn’t just about the people arrested—it changes life for entire neighborhoods, altering everything from faith practices to local economics. Some pastors in Nashville told local reporters that attendance in their churches dropped sharply during the operation, leaving pews mostly empty.

For volunteers with groups like MusicCityMigraWatch, the days of the operation meant tracking police cars, hosting “know your rights” sessions, and making plans to get information to families in trouble. These support systems are often the only help families can count on in times of crisis.

Law Enforcement’s Stance: Safety or Overreach?

Officials from Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE keep saying public safety is their main goal. Brian Acuna of ICE said, “This operation underscores ICE’s unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law.” Supporters of the partnership argue that the arrest of people with criminal backgrounds protects everyone.

On the other hand, critics insist that federal immigration law is best left to federal agents, not local police, to avoid errors, confusion, and civil rights violations.

Others warn that involving the Tennessee Highway Patrol in immigration duties may distract from its original mission—making roads safe, not enforcing federal law.

The Path Ahead: Calls for Transparency and Change

The Nashville Operation brings up big debates that still don’t have easy answers:

• Should state police play a big role in federal immigration enforcement, or is their main job to protect all residents equally, no matter their status?
• Does telling local police to detain people for immigration reasons reduce crime, or does it just make people afraid of officers?
• How can Tennessee build trust between its officers and immigrant communities when cooperation with ICE causes fear?

As more states consider tough new laws and join federal programs like 287(g), these questions will only become more important in the years ahead.

Where to Get Reliable Information and Help

Immigrants and their families who feel affected by these changes often need strong, clear information they can trust. Besides local legal aid groups, the ICE’s official website regularly updates the public on operations, arrests, and policies. Families with questions about their rights can search for local advocacy groups or legal clinics ready to help.

And as always, keeping an eye on trusted news sources like VisaVerge.com can help residents, employers, and students in Tennessee and beyond stay aware of ongoing changes and what they might mean. Being aware of these stories doesn’t just help one group—it benefits whole communities, making sure everyone knows how new rules and operations may affect their daily lives.

Recap: Key Points from the Nashville Operation

• Tennessee Highway Patrol’s role in immigration enforcement has expanded thanks to a new partnership with ICE and the federal 287(g) program.
• In the Nashville Operation, hundreds of traffic stops led to nearly 200 ICE arrests—about half with criminal records or active charges.
• Many locals, including Mayor O’Connell, have called for more openness and information about who was arrested and why.
• Community groups continue to report high levels of fear and anxiety among immigrants, with effects seen in churches, businesses, and schools.
• The debate over the role of local police in immigration enforcement is unlikely to end soon.

As Tennessee carries out more joint operations and states across the U.S. watch closely, the story unfolding in Nashville will continue to shape policy, politics, and lives for many months to come.

Learn Today

287(g) Program → A federal program permitting state and local law enforcement to perform certain federal immigration enforcement functions after training by ICE.
Racial Profiling → The practice of targeting individuals for law enforcement based on race or ethnicity rather than evidence of criminal activity.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws and removing individuals unlawfully present in the U.S.
Deportation Proceedings → Legal processes initiated to remove non-citizens from the United States due to violations of immigration law.
Red Notice → An international alert from Interpol to seek the location and arrest of a wanted person for extradition.

This Article in a Nutshell

The Tennessee Highway Patrol joined forces with ICE in a major immigration operation in Nashville. Nearly 200 arrests resulted, about half involving prior criminal charges. Critics argue the initiative has spurred fear and disrupted communities, while officials defend the crackdown as vital for public safety and collaboration under the federal 287(g) program.
— By VisaVerge.com

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