Immigrant rights groups respond to TN congressman's call for federal investigation into Nashville mayor's office
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Immigrant rights advocates have criticized Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles' call for a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office.
Ogles has publicly questioned whether Nashville officials misused federal funds and whether the mayor was 'aiding and abetting' illegal immigration — without providing proof.
'The mayor stands up and is defending those types of individuals over our hard-working law enforcement: Homeland Security, ICE, THP, the sheriff's department, and the city,' Ogles said. 'He is choosing criminals over Tennesseans.'
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Part of the controversy is The Belonging Fund, launched by a nonprofit after recent ICE roundups in South Nashville. Metro promoted the fund, which provides emergency support to immigrants, covering basics like food, housing, and transportation. Ogles has claimed that the fund illegally aids undocumented immigrants.
Additionally, Ogles claims that O'Connell and State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) encouraged interference against ICE. Both O'Connell and Behn have denied the allegations.
'If Representative Andy Ogles wants to talk about investigations, I think he should start to look in the mirror,' Behn told News 2. 'This man is a walking ethics violation.'
Metro officials say no taxpayer dollars were used for The Belonging Fund, and it does not cover legal services or immigration defense.
'If you come into this country illegally, your very first act is illegal,' Ogles said.
However, advocates for immigrants have expressed skepticism on any case against Metro officials, including O'Connell.
'The Tennessee Highway Patrol had ongoing operations for at least a week, and nobody stopped anything from happening,' Executive Director for Advocates for Immigrants Rights, Casey Bryant, said.
'If they are providing blanket services that happen to cover undocumented individuals, then I don't really see that mens rea — that willful and intelligent component to the violation of that law,' Director for the Immigrant Justice Program CLC, Colton Bane, said. 'It just happens to have such a wide range that these people could get some assistance.'
Bane said that Nashville could see federal retaliation.
'What I think is much more likely in this situation is the withholding of federal funds for the city of Nashville, which tends to be the go-to tactic when the federal government is seeking to punish a city or state,' Bane explained.
Behn said she thinks Ogles' threats are a distraction from Tennesseans' real needs.
'Our groceries still cost a lot, healthcare is bankrupting families, and our wages haven't improved, and the republican party has no way of fixing this and, so instead, they are scapegoating a very small marginalized community,' Behn said.
Ogles also emphasized his belief that noncitizens have no due process rights, which is untrue.
'Outside, they are chanting 'Protect due process,' do you think every person who was arrested in the local ICE raids has a right to due process?' a reporter asked Ogles.
'No, so if you are a noncitizen under the current law, you can be removed in an expeditious manner,' Ogles responded.
Bryant stressed that if noncitizens were to lose their right to due process, it would impact citizens.
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'Due process is something that we value highly in the criminal context, and it is historically what has made this country a more just place, but if we take due process rights away from noncitizens, then it is just a matter of time before other people, even citizens are deprived of their due process rights,' Bryant explained.
News 2 reached out to both O'Connell's office and ICE for comment. However, as of publication, we have received no response. Metro Legal did not have a comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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