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3 days ago
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Congressional committees announce investigation into Nashville Mayor
Two Congressional committees announced a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell on May 30, accusing the mayor of obstructing a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a major immigration operation in early May. The Committee on Homeland Security—chaired by U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee—and the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives, sent a letter demanding investigative materials from the mayor as part of a federal effort to conduct 'oversight of state and local jurisdictions that endanger American communities through efforts aimed at thwarting the work of federal immigration officials.' The move comes after weeks of public pressure by U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who held a press conference on Memorial Day weekend calling for the investigation. 'While the state of Tennessee has outlawed sanctuary policies, recent actions from your office threaten to chill immigration enforcement in the City of Nashville and Davidson County,' the letter reads. 'Accordingly, we write to request information about how your recent actions, including a directive to Nashville and Davidson County employees to disclose their communications with federal immigration officials, affects the robust enforcement of immigration law.' Until May 30, O'Connell has declined to comment on Ogles' calls for a congressional investigation. At the mayor's weekly news conference with Nashville reporters, O'Connell said his office intended to 'appropriately respond' to the requests listed in the letter from members of Congress. He also said he's not concerned about the investigation finding any wrongdoing. 'I am not particularly concerned,' O'Connell said. 'We're going to, again, respond appropriately to all inquiries. We have been guided by a full understanding of state and federal law and will continue to be.' More: What to know about how Mayor O'Connell responded to Nashville ICE operation Nashville is weeks removed from the weeklong immigration enforcement operation, during which ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol made 468 traffic stops and arrested nearly 200 immigrants. The ICE sweeps were concentrated in south Nashville, in neighborhoods around Nolensville Pike and Harding Place with a large population of immigrants and Latino residents. Friday's letter condemns O'Connell's public statements of opposition to the ICE operation, as well as a community charity fund that, while announced by O'Connell at a May 5 press conference, is run by a community nonprofit and does not utilize taxpayer funds. More: D.C. Republicans pile on Nashville mayor over ICE response — and imply more action in city It also expresses 'concern' about a previously standing executive order updated by O'Connell requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration officials to the mayor's office. The order, titled Executive Order 30, isn't new — in fact, it's well over a year old, having first been issued in January 2024. But it's reemerged in the wake of the ICE operation because O'Connell amended it to allow for a shorter timeline for reporting. Regardless, the order is a key focus in the investigation. 'This Executive Order could have a chilling effect on the ability of local law enforcement to communicate freely and candidly with federal immigration employees,' the letter states, adding that there is 'real potential that your Executive Order could have the effect of diminishing ICE enforcement operations.' The letter lists three key requests for the city, all concerning documents created between May 1 and the receiving of the letter: All documents and communications referring or relating to the amendment of Executive Order 30 All documents and communications referring or relating to ICE enforcement actions in the City of Nashville or Davidson County All documents and communications 'between or among Metro employees and non-Metro employees, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, referring or relating to the arrest of criminal aliens in the City of Nashville and Davidson County' The information is tagged with a June 13 deadline, and is signed by Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement Tom McClintock, R-California, Ogles and Green. 'Today, with the full support of Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green, we're taking action," said Ogles, in a press release regarding the investigation. "If Mayor O'Connell wants to spy on federal agents doing their job, then Congress is going to investigate him for obstruction.' The letter came a day after the city of Nashville was added to a federal list titled 'Sanctuary Jurisdictions Defying Federal Immigration Law,' which was posted on the Department of Homeland Security's website. There are only two 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed in Tennessee — Nashville and Shelby County. DHS says each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. It's not immediately clear why Nashville — or any jurisdiction in Tennessee — is included on the list, given that neither has self-identified as a sanctuary city. In Tennessee, sanctuary cities have been banned for about seven years, and another state law passed earlier this year criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. O'Connell also commented on Nashville's appearance on the list at his May 30 news conference. He passed out copies of the state law to reporters and said Nashville complies with 'every single component' of the law and, by definition, is not a sanctuary city. O'Connell added that Nashville does not have — and has never had — a policy violating the state law. He said the city has asserted over the past several weeks that it has no legal authority related to immigration enforcement and does not impede law enforcement action. 'I'm puzzled about the criteria they used to include Nashville (on the list),' O'Connell said. 'We are not and never have been a sanctuary city. If you look at the state law that defines a sanctuary city policy there are six factors, and we do not and never have had a policy that violates any of those factors. I'd be interested to learn what criteria they're using.' The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@ by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Congressional committees announce investigation into O'Connell, city
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3 days ago
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Amid ICE criticism, Nashville makes list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' by Homeland Security
Nashville is included on a new list of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security claims are violating federal immigration law — despite Nashville not being classified as a sanctuary city. DHS appears to have published the list on May 29. According to the DHS website, a 'sanctuary jurisdiction' is a city, county or state that is 'deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities.' The website says so-called sanctuary jurisdictions are determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement, information restrictions and legal protections for undocumented immigrants. There are only two 'sanctuary jurisdictions' listed in Tennessee — Nashville and Shelby County. DHS says each jurisdiction will receive formal notification of its non-compliance with federal statutes. 'DHS demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens,' the DHS website reads. It's not immediately clear why Nashville — or any jurisdiction in Tennessee — is included on the list, given that neither has self-identified as a sanctuary city. In Tennessee, sanctuary cities have been banned for about seven years, and another state law passed earlier this year criminalizes local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. Meanwhile, though some local officials have criticized federal immigration enforcement action, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently collaborated with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct a weeklong operation in Nashville, which resulted in nearly 200 arrests. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell was critical of ICE during the operation, asking repeatedly for the release of the names and charges of the individuals arrested in Nashville and updating an existing executive order requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration authorities to the mayor's office on a shorter timeline. The latter action has come under scrutiny from Republicans in Washington, D.C., who have vowed to open congressional investigations into O'Connell's conduct and potentially even ramp up immigration enforcement actions in Nashville. Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ Get Davidson County news delivered to your inbox every Wednesday. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville among 'sanctuary jurisdictions,' Homeland Security says
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3 days ago
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Nashville ICE arrests roil protests, fears, calls for investigation. Here's what to know.
An early May operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Nashville has driven controversy, protests and tensions between local, state and federal officials. Over the course of a week, ICE worked with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to make 468 traffic stops and arrest nearly 200 immigrants around south Nashville. Mayor Freddie O'Connell, advocacy groups, Metro Council members and others have raised questions and concerns over the operation. O'Connell has in turn come under fire from Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles and other D.C. Republicans, who called for an investigation into him over his response to the situation. Here's what to know as questions remain over the operation, who it affected and what happens next. More: What to know about how Mayor O'Connell responded to Nashville ICE operation The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security called the immigration arrests a "public safety operation" that focused on "areas with a history of serious traffic crashes and suspected gang activity." ICE said that 196 immigrants were arrested and that the operation focused on identifying those with criminal histories. The agency said the action stemmed from its "commitment to public safety and the rule of law." Of the 196 arrested, an ICE spokesperson said 95 had prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Additionally, 31 of those arrested were previously removed from the U.S. and reentered the country illegally. ICE later provided a few more details on those arrested, including two with gang affiliations, one with a long history of removals from the U.S. and convictions for felony domestic assault and sex with a minor, and another convicted of rape. The operation ran from about May 3-10. As of May 29, six of the people arrested had been named by officials. 'We're not criminals': Nashville immigrant, 19, went out for ice cream, ended up detained by ICE and sent to Louisiana THP and the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security partnered with federal ICE agents to coordinate the weeklong operation. The highway patrol is now under an official agreement with ICE, giving it authority to carry out federal duties like jail and warrant enforcement. However, that agreement was not officially approved until May 13, after the operation ended. Outside Nashville, efforts to remove undocumented immigrants have also ramped up as several counties have partnered with ICE, including Sumner, Giles, Knox, Greene, Hamilton and Putnam counties. Nationwide, ICE has agreements with nearly 600 agencies across 39 states. What to know: What agencies are behind the Nashville ICE operations and how they work As the ICE operation unfolded, Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell and the city's legal director, Wally Dietz, repeatedly called for transparency from ICE about who had been arrested and what they'd been charged with. On May 4, immigrant rights groups and community members gathered at Nashville's ICE office after dozens of traffic stops over the weekend. Several people from the group, which included children, chanted and carried signs as busses pulled out of the parking lot. The next day, O'Connell held a news conference. "The trauma inflicted on families is long-lasting, and I'm doing everything in my power consistent with applicable law to protect anyone who calls Nashville home," O'Connell said during the May 5 event. "What's clear today is that people who do not share our values of safety and community have the authority to cause deep community harm." During the operation, O'Connell updated an existing executive order requiring city departments to report communications with federal immigration officials to the mayor's office. The update tightened the timeline for those reports. He also addressed community and Metro Nashville Council concerns about whether the Metro Nashville Police Department was involved in the operation. Although the operations were conducted in Nashville, local agencies like Davidson County Sheriff's Office and Metro Nashville Police Department were not involved in the enforcement. A spokesperson with MNPD said the department provided additional patrols at ICE headquarters. Metro Council members held an hourslong meeting on May 7 to address questions and concerns over the ICE operation. Leaders and community members questioned the operation's legality, the involvement of local police and the need for more transparency around immigration enforcement. U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, who accused the mayor of obstructing the ICE operation, has called for a federal investigation into O'Connell in the wake of the ICE arrests. Flanked by state and local lawmakers, Ogles hosted a news conference at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville on the afternoon of Memorial Day. He repeated a call on two congressional committees — the House Judiciary Committee and the Homeland Security Committee — to open investigations into the mayor. Ogles decried past U.S. presidents for letting a "flood of illegals" into the country and rattled off a list of crimes he said involved undocumented immigrants in Nashville, saying several were arrested during the ICE operation. He repeated what ICE officials said about those arrested having gang affiliations, prior removals from the U.S. and convictions for domestic assault, sex with a minor and rape. He also spoke about recent arrests in Middle Tennessee that were not part of the operation that he said involved gangs, sex rings, drug and human trafficking, murder and more. 'When a 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 — he's choosing criminals over Tennesseans,' Ogles said. Other D.C. Republicans added their voices to the calls to investigate O'Connell. However, as of May 29, it was not clear if an official federal investigation had been opened. Advocates plan to maintain their efforts to support, protect and guide immigrants while navigating an ever-evolving legal and political landscape on the state and federal level. One group, established well before the operation, continues to patrol Nashville streets to look for ICE activity. The group saw a surge in volunteers after the wave of arrests. After the May 7 meeting, Metro Council members called for a number of actions, including redirecting funding in O'Connell's recent budget proposal from the MNPD toward a legal aid fund and ensuring that all city departments were in compliance with the mayor's executive order. District 17 Council Member Terry Vo also asked city officials to commit to creating a community safety plan within the 30 days following the meeting. Meanwhile, Ogles and others have continued their call for investigations into O'Connell. Metro Council Member David Benton has also called for an investigation of his own, asking for a state and federal audit of The Belonging Fund. The fund was launched by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee on May 5 to support child care and transportation costs, and address housing assistance and food insecurity for immigrant families. O'Connell previously said the city itself likely couldn't contribute to the fund and also that the fund wouldn't support immigration legal services. Benton wants clarity on that matter, saying it would run afoul of federal laws against harboring undocumented immigrants. He called for O'Connell to choose between "criminals or the innocent taxpayers." Benton represents District 28, which includes part of the area where the recent ICE operation was concentrated. Reach reporter Rachel Wegner via email at RAwegner@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville ICE arrests: What to know as questions persist
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3 days ago
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Building the future: Nashville's new Nissan Stadium construction, Super Bowl bids
A lot has changed since Nashville's new Nissan Stadium broke ground in February 2024. For one, the construction site has transformed from a pile of excavated dirt into a massive structure of concrete and steel. Operating partners have been added to the project, covering everything from heating and cooling to the Titans' official soft drink partner. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the projected completion date for the stadium. More than a year into the construction process, the new home of the Tennessee Titans is still slated to be complete by February 2027. At this stage, around 1,000 construction workers work at the stadium every day, and a handful of cranes loom over the bustling construction site. These are the new Nissan Stadium milestones since construction began last year. A ceremonial groundbreaking at the end of February 2024 marked the start of construction at the new Nissan Stadium just steps away from the existing facility on Nashville's East Bank. "This will be an iconic part of the new skyline. Taylor Swift fans, you can leave your umbrellas at home starting in 2027," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said at the groundbreaking celebration, referencing Swift's concert in the rain in 2023. The new stadium will have a roof, unlike the current open-air arena. "In a generation, you won't recognize this area. You won't believe what it once was." When the Titans began their 2024 season in September, it was next door to an active construction site. Concrete pouring had begun, and the overall structure of the stadium was visible. Fans at the time had fewer parking spaces to choose from because of construction, and that will continue to be the case during future seasons. The team is expected to play the 2025 and 2026 seasons in the current Nissan Stadium before the new one is finished in 2027. The construction project hit the one-year mark in late February 2025. By that time, the foundation for the facility was completely poured and crews were busy at work pouring structural concrete columns, key to the framework of the stadium. In late February, Titans Senior Vice President Dan Werly affirmed the team's interest in hosting a Super Bowl, which he said could come as early as 2029. College Football Playoffs, NCAA Final Four games, WrestleMania and other large events are also on the wish list. "It's my opinion that all those events are going to be coming to Nashville within the next 10 years, kind of staggered over that time period," Werly said. "That's really exciting. That drives a ton of impact to the community, but it's also just, I think, something that's going to be really fun for us all to be able to take advantage of." By March, the first tour groups including media organizations and investment partners were welcomed into the active construction site to survey progress and take photos to share with the public. The project was about 25% completed at that time, on schedule and on budget. The structure's concrete reached its maximum height in early 2025, and a steel top-out comes next, likely around November. The roof could be complete by late 2026. Also in March, more city leaders publicly joined the conversation about bringing a Super Bowl to Nashville. The city submitted a letter of interest to the National Football League to host a Super Bowl in future years, according to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Governor Bill Lee also confirmed he sent his own letter of interest to NFL Commissioner Roger Gooddell to bring a Super Bowl to Nashville, throwing support behind the city's bid. Other events Nashville is vying for include a college football National Championship Game, NFL Combine, NFL Pro Bowl, NFL Draft, NCAA Men's Final Four game and the Rugby World Cup. As construction progress continues, more operations partners have been announced, including Schneider Electric. The tech company will install infrastructure to manage the heating and cooling of the domed stadium, which will need more sophisticated energy management systems than the old, open-air stadium. The partnership between Schneider and the Titans will pave the way for the new Nissan Stadium to be temperature controlled with the latest energy-management technologies. By April, a new aspect of Nissan Stadium was visible at the construction site: a massive outdoor terrace at the stadium's 300 seating level. It will be open to all ticket-holders and branded after Coca-Cola, which was also announced as the facility's official beverage partner. It's a three-way partnership between the Titans, Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Consolidated (a bottling company). The soda brand first became a partner for the team when it was established as the Houston Oilers and has maintained a presence in the existing Nissan Stadium, built in 1999. Nashville's Pinnacle Financial Partners also renewed its partnership with the team and announced the Pinnacle Club, an exclusive space with amenities and in-bowl lounge seating. The bank has been a sponsor of the team since 2009 and will continue that collaboration for at least another decade. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's new Nissan Stadium: Milestones so far amid construction Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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4 days ago
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Nashville criticized for sharing ICE interactions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The debate continues between Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell and Tennessee lawmaker over ICE activity in the city. The city of Nashville released a detailed spreadsheet of 35 interactions the Metro Nashville Police Department had with Homeland Security (HSI) May 4, 2025, Metro police chief John Drake called HSI to ask about immigration operations occurring in Nashville, according to the report. At the time, MNPD did not know about immigration efforts in the city. The HSI said they would not be in Nashville, but in neighboring counties, and investigators were working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. In response to the release of detailed communications, US. Rep. Andy Ogles said by publicly posting the names of DSI and ICE agents handing intel to gangs like MS-13, who can now track down and potentially target these officers. DHS: 196 arrested in Nashville ICE operations, 5 names released Rep. Johnny Garrett wrote mayor Freddie O'connell is using official taxpayer resources to endanger DHS and HSI officials The mayor has cVontinued to say Metro police had no part in the major ICE operation. Homeland Security and judiciary committees will look into the mayor, his conduct and whether or not the city used federal dollars criminally, related to immigration. Congressman Andy Ogles confirms federal investigation into Nashville mayor's office over illegal immigration Business owners gathered Thursday morning to support local businesses struggling in light of the recent ICE operations and educate them on how to be prepared. The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce chose to meet at Las Americas on Nolensville Pike once they learned the businesses was struggling. The owner told News 2 in the last months or so, his business has lost out on more than half of its normal sales because workers and customers are afraid to come to the restaurant. Nashville releases timeline of ICE activity across city He said it's had an even bigger impact on business than the COVID-19 pandemic. 'The only thing I can do is work like always. You can do nothing about that. If you don't have nothing for your family. You're missing everything,' explained owner Gerardo Gomez. The operation ended with 196 people arrested, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that also claimed the Nashville mayor 'stands by pro-illegal policies.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
