Key Takeaways
• ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested 196 undocumented immigrants in Nashville in May 2025.
• Mayor O’Connell issued orders tracking federal activity; Andy Ogles demanded investigations into alleged obstruction.
• Nashville’s refusal to join 287(g) contrasts with other Tennessee counties, sparking statewide debate over local and federal enforcement.
A major dispute has broken out in Nashville over how the city takes part in federal immigration enforcement. At the heart of this conflict are U.S. Representative Andy Ogles and Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Their disagreement has drawn in leaders from both sides, touched off questions about local and federal roles, and may soon involve formal investigations at the highest levels. What happened here, and why has it become such a central fight for Nashville and its immigrant community?
Major Immigration and Customs Enforcement Operation
In May 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, carried out a large operation in Nashville. This effort led to the arrest of 196 people who were in the country without permission. The Department of Homeland Security gave more detail about those taken into custody:
– 95 people had been convicted of crimes or had criminal charges still pending.
– 31 had already been deported from the United States 🇺🇸 but came back illegally.
This action was one of the largest of its kind in the city and happened soon after a new law was passed by Governor Bill Lee. The law changed how Tennessee handles immigration, including the setup of a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division. Local governments were encouraged to join the federal 287(g) program, which lets local officers help identify and detain undocumented immigrants along with federal agents.
For some, these steps signaled a stronger stance on immigration across the state. Others saw them as putting pressure and fear into immigrant communities already feeling vulnerable.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Actions and Public Stance
After the ICE operation, Mayor Freddie O’Connell responded quickly. He made several moves that shaped the city’s approach to future federal immigration activity. His actions included:
1. Signing an executive order directing every city department to track any federal immigration activity and report it to the mayor’s office within one business day.
2. According to Andy Ogles, Mayor O’Connell also told local police to report any contact with ICE agents and encouraged citizens to complain if they saw city officers helping federal agents during immigration enforcement.
3. O’Connell spoke publicly about the ICE approach, saying that Nashville solves crime in ways that do not split families or distress whole communities. He highlighted that the city wants to keep families together and not create a climate of fear.
4. The mayor also set up the “Belonging Fund”, a new program that uses some taxpayer dollars to help immigrants in Nashville.
O’Connell and city attorney Wally Dietz said they only wanted information about the operation after it was already over and did not interfere with ICE’s work. Still, these actions fueled a heated debate over what the city’s true role should be in working with federal immigration agencies.
Andy Ogles’ Sharp Criticism and Congressional Pushback
Representative Andy Ogles did not agree with O’Connell’s approach. Instead, he raised strong public criticism and took concrete steps in Congress.
Ogles, who represents parts of South Nashville in Congress, accused Mayor O’Connell of blocking ICE and protecting people with criminal histories. He even stated that the mayor should face criminal prosecution for his actions. At a Homeland Security briefing in Washington D.C., Ogles directly asked Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem if local officials who get in the way of ICE’s job are breaking the law. She answered, “Yes,” which gave Andy Ogles more confidence in his statements.
Ogles then went further and asked top House committees, including the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, to formally look into O’Connell’s actions during the ICE operation. At the hearing, Ogles stated, “Any local elected official that is interfering with ICE or Homeland Security for doing their job should be quite frankly prosecuted.”
His words got national attention and increased the pressure on Nashville officials. Ogles’ supporters said he was standing up for the law and keeping the public safe. But O’Connell and his supporters viewed the congressman’s moves as a way to scare local leaders away from supporting immigrant communities.
Federal and Local Law Enforcement: Different Approaches
This dispute showed the ongoing struggle about how federal and local governments should work together on immigration enforcement. Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall gave a clear summary of how local officers currently help with federal immigration work. He said that while his deputies do not arrest people just for immigration violations, they are required by law to share booking information with ICE when someone gets locked up.
In contrast, Sumner County and some other areas of Tennessee have decided to go further and join the 287(g) program, which gives local officers more power to work directly with ICE. However, Nashville has refused to take this step so far.
This means that while some parts of Tennessee have gotten more involved with federal immigration enforcement, Nashville has chosen a different path. For supporters of local immigration policies, this allows the city to gain trust with its immigrant neighborhoods and avoid creating an environment where people are scared to talk to police—even when they are victims of, or witnesses to, crimes.
Background and Why This Fight Caught Fire
Tensions over immigration have been rising in Nashville for years, but this latest episode reached new heights. The backdrop to this dispute includes a tragic event: last year, an undocumented immigrant who had been deported four times killed a local restaurant owner, Matt Carney, in a hit-and-run. This event shocked the community and became a rallying point in local and state debates about immigration enforcement and public safety.
After this, the state moved quickly to strengthen its immigration laws. Governor Bill Lee’s new law centralized state response on immigration and encouraged local departments to support ICE through the 287(g) program. Supporters say this helps protect communities, while critics argue that it increases fear and may punish people unfairly.
Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security publicly criticized Mayor O’Connell after the recent ICE operation, saying his office’s steps could get in the way of keeping the state and the nation safe.
Divided City, Divided State
This fight is not just about one mayor or congressman but shows a deeper divide over how to balance local public safety, federal law, and the needs of immigrant families.
- Many Nashville residents with immigrant backgrounds say city policies like those encouraged by O’Connell make them feel safer. They argue that people are more likely to report crimes or offer help to police if they know their city leaders will not use local resources to enforce federal immigration laws.
- Others, including many of Andy Ogles’ supporters, worry that limiting cooperation with ICE makes it easier for people with criminal backgrounds to escape justice and puts everyone at risk.
Local business owners, schools, and groups that provide legal aid have also weighed in. They point out that when the threat of arrest from ICE is always looming, workers and students may be too scared to show up for work or class. They also warn that families can be split up at a moment’s notice.
Those in favor of strict enforcement argue that the main goal must always be public safety, and that laws must be followed even when it is hard for some families. They say that ICE’s focus on people with serious criminal histories shows the operations are not targeting most immigrants, just those who pose a clear risk.
What the Law Says and What It Means for Nashville
The legal side is complicated. Federal law is above local law, which means cities cannot stop ICE from carrying out its work. But local governments can decide how much they want to help beyond what the law requires. Programs like 287(g) are voluntary, and cities have a choice about whether to join.
Nashville has so far not signed up for this. But the new state law adds pressure for cities to do more. Just how much power the state has to force cities to sign on is not yet clear, and this may soon be tested in court.
On the federal level, it is a crime to hide or protect people from immigration law if it is done knowingly and with a clear purpose. Andy Ogles says Mayor O’Connell’s actions meet this standard and could be a federal crime. O’Connell strongly disagrees and says all he did was ask for information after the operation.
This legal debate may only get more heated if Congress carries out the investigations Ogles has demanded.
Local Implications for Immigrants, Law Enforcement, and Residents
For immigrants living in Nashville, these events have brought both hope and worry. Some feel that the mayor’s stand means their city cares about them and will help keep them safe. Others are scared that new state and federal pressures could make life harder or even mean a bigger risk of being separated from family members.
Local law enforcement is also in a tough spot. Officers have to follow the law, but they must also build trust with all communities. Balancing these is not easy, especially when state and federal leaders send different messages about what is most important.
Some residents worry about the cost of the “Belonging Fund” and whether it is the right use of taxpayer money, while others argue it helps newcomers become contributing members of the community.
Looking Ahead: Nashville at a Crossroads
The showdown between Andy Ogles and Freddie O’Connell is far from over. With Congress considering investigations and the state watching closely, the next steps in Nashville could shape how other cities across Tennessee and the United States 🇺🇸 handle immigration enforcement.
If you want to better understand 287(g) and how ICE works with local agencies, official and up-to-date content is available from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This resource explains the 287(g) program and how it allows local law enforcement agencies to work alongside ICE.
In the end, this dispute raises hard questions: How much should cities help federal agencies when it comes to immigration and customs enforcement? What is the best way to keep communities safe without breaking apart families or creating fear? Is it possible for local leaders to support both law and trust among all residents?
As reported by VisaVerge.com, the situation in Nashville is not just about one operation or one disagreement, but about how a city defines itself in an era of intense national debate over immigration policy. The choices made here—by politicians, police, and everyday people—will echo for a long time to come. Whether you are a supporter of Andy Ogles, Mayor O’Connell, or simply someone living in Nashville and watching all this unfold, these are issues that will shape daily life, public safety, and the fabric of your community.
Nashville now stands at a turning point. The decisions that come next—about cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, about using local resources to help or challenge federal efforts, about the balance between enforcement and inclusion—will speak volumes about the city’s values and future. No matter where you stand, one thing is clear: this debate is not ending anytime soon, and it deserves the attention of everyone who calls Nashville home.
Learn Today
287(g) Program → A voluntary agreement allowing local law enforcement agencies to collaborate directly with ICE to identify and detain undocumented immigrants.
Executive Order → An official directive issued by a city mayor or government leader to manage operations and enforce specific policies within their jurisdiction.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) → A federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including locating, detaining, and deporting undocumented immigrants.
Belonging Fund → A Nashville city program that allocates taxpayer funds to support immigrants impacted by federal enforcement and promote community inclusion.
Homeland Security Committees → Congressional panels overseeing national security agencies, including ICE, with authority to conduct investigations and hearings about immigration enforcement.
This Article in a Nutshell
A sweeping ICE operation in Nashville in May 2025 led to 196 arrests, igniting fierce debate. Mayor O’Connell introduced protective measures for immigrants, while Representative Ogles accused him of obstructing federal law. Nashville’s decision against the 287(g) program highlights a divided approach to immigration enforcement shaping the city’s future.
— By VisaVerge.com
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