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Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nashville's ICE arrests were bad. The lack of information is worse
The more I learn about what happened on the south side of my own hometown, starting in darkness early on May 4, the angrier I become. It's not just that federally driven storm troopers, under the dictates of a broken immigration system, stopped, seized, and 'disappeared' dozens of unnamed, unnumbered people. It's that the lack of information about where they were taken has devastated their families even more. Unhelpful silence in lieu of public explanation from state and federal authorities has only added gross insult to civil law injuries. Tight-lipped state and federal officials have also adopted this arrogant response to any questions: 'The American people voted for this,' referring to the November election. No, we did not. Arrest criminals, yes, but we didn't ask for this. We didn't vote for a dragnet that stops and unnerves innocent family members. Nashville's city officials (chiefly Mayor O'Connell and Metro Law Director Wally Dietz) and a few local news reporters have been doing their best over the past week, asking what exactly happened in the darkness that early Sunday. As yet, no answers or explanations have come from the authorities who directed this. In particular, the elected officials who have so utterly caved to the extreme Trump regime – Governor Bill Lee, US Senators Blackburn and Hagerty, as well as other Republicans in the Legislature and delegation to Congress – have made themselves shamefully scarce. In a saner time, a Tennessee Governor would at least offer helpful information, insisting that the feds and his own Highway Patrol identify who was taken away. But no such wise behavior has come forward a week after ICE's Nashville operations began. Loved ones are left to imagine the worst. Did their family members wake up in another country on the morning of Cinco de Mayo? Who knows? More: Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell: Recent ICE arrests caused 'deep community harm' In a saner moment, the US senators who stood by and allowed a stumbling new regime to trash the notion of due process would stand on the same sidewalk where loved ones now grieve these disappearances and insist that details be made public immediately. But those who might know answers aren't telling. And the American officials who could demand the answers aren't. This situation in Nashville, with macho agents in fearsome SWAT gear and dark sunglasses, is downright alarming and scary. Who will be disappeared from our streets next because their skin is brown? 'Racial profiling,' to be clear, is when a sworn official makes a decision to arrest someone based on his or her race or ethnicity, rather than on specific information about criminal activity. It involves using racial stereotypes to target certain groups based on their appearance, on the color of their skin, and, in this case, driving through a particular part of Nashville. Here, a dragnet was cast over an entire part of our city—along the Nolensville Pike corridor—where, in daylight, a commercial and cultural district thrives, adding vibrance to our city. Did this dragnet catch some individuals who are criminals? Maybe. Is that okay? Yes. Were innocent civilians caught up in the same net. Who knows. Racial profiling is an insult to our city and all our families. It is harmful and hurtful to civil society. Loved ones of those taken away were left in fear, to sit and sob on the curb. Eight days later, there is still no word that any of the individuals spirited away were taken before any judge or magistrate and allowed to speak for themselves. The presumption now must be that any 'due process' was utterly ignored. That ought to be downright chilling for all of us as citizens. The truth is that all those 'others'—whom this administration likes to disparage and marginalize—are, in fact, us. If you are not alarmed by what happened here, and how our federal and state officials are failing to do their humane duties about it, you aren't paying enough attention. Keel Hunt, a columnist for the USA Today Network in Tennessee, is the author of four books about Tennessee politics and working on a fifth on the long friendship between Senator Howard Baker and Tennessean publisher John Seigenthaler. Read more at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: It's time for leaders to demand answers about ICE arrests | Opinion
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tennessee ICE operation sparks fear in immigrant communities as over 100 arrested under Trump deportation plan
AI image A recent joint operation between US immigration department and the Tennessee highway patrol has resulted in the arrest of over 100 people, sparking concern and uncertainty within Nashville's immigrant community. The operation, which began on May 3, saw the Highway Patrol making 588 stops, of which 103 individuals were detained under suspicion of immigration violations, reported news agency Associated Press. The operation, which officials say was intended to improve public safety, resulted in the recovery of illegal drugs and firearms. The operation has raised alarm, especially in Nashville, where local officials were caught off guard. Operation Sindoor 'Common sense prevailed': Trump on India-Pak ceasefire on Truth Social 'Pakistan initiated call; both nations agreed to stop military action after direct talks', says India Ceasefire took effect at 5pm; top India, Pak military officials to talk again on May 12 Wally Dietz, Nashville's law director, said that the city was unaware of the operation's specifics. Republican governor Bill Lee, defend the initiative, citing a new law to bolster state immigration enforcement. Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, labelled the operation as racial profiling, claiming the highway patrol has been stopping people for minor infractions like broken taillights or tinted windows in predominantly immigrant areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Complete protection with iPru All-in-one Term Plan ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Luna argues that many individuals detained during the operation might have had a right to remain in the US if they had access to proper legal counsel. Instead, many are reportedly agreeing to deportation out of fear of prolonged detention.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Immigrant community on alert amid reports of ICE activity in Nashville and beyond
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — While the arrests involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Tennessee Highway Patrol's 'public safety operation' occurred mostly in South Nashville and Antioch, immigrant advocacy organizations said they are also keeping an eye on incoming reports of ICE activity across the region. News 2 checked with law enforcement agencies in several counties surrounding Davidson County. The Franklin Police Department, the La Vergne Police Department, and the Gallatin Police Department have said they're not aware of any ICE activity in their respective areas, but the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, the Sumner County Sheriff's Office, and the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office have yet to respond. According to THP's statement from Wednesday, May 7, their operation with ICE has resulted in 369 traffic stops, where ICE detained a total of 94 individuals, including a convicted child sex predator and a known Tren de Aragua gang member. However, ICE told News 2 on Tuesday, May 6 that 84 people were arrested. Nashville releases timeline of ICE activity across city The ReMIX, an immigrant rights organization, they believe the 'public safety operation' is intentionally targeting predominantly Latino neighborhoods. 'They don't have names of people. They're just literally pulling people over 'randomly,' but people who look a certain way — who are Brown — and racially profiling…We've talked to family members who don't know where their husbands are, their uncles, their wives, so yeah, it's horrible,' said Molly, a concerned citizen with The ReMIX. On Wednesday, the director of law for the Metro Nashville government, Wally Dietz, said he sent a letter to three ICE field offices requesting the identities of those who were taken into custody, their charges, and their locations. News 2 asked the Tennessee Immigrant Rights and Refugee Coalition (TIRRC) if they were aware of anymore ICE activity outside of the Nashville area. TIRRC sent the following response: We know that immigration enforcement operations have been ongoing. We have received additional reports in Nashville and beyond and our legal team's priority is to ensure all families impacted have their fair day in court and are reunited with family members as soon as possible. Tennessee advocates demand ICE release the names of those detained The ReMIX is offering virtual family liaison training from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 8 to help support Nashville families impacted by the recent ICE operation. In addition, the organization encourages people to attend a 'Know Your Rights' training event on Saturday, May 10. 'These are amazing people who are part of our community. They're our friends, they're family members, and we are not safer because Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE are out here snatching people off the streets. It makes all of us less safe and tearing apart communities and families,' said Molly. The ReMIX is also holding a candlelight vigil for those arrested and detained by ICE at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Glencliff High School. City leaders are set to attend. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Appeals court shoots down part of Nashville transit plan on housing, parks but upholds most
The Tennessee Court of Appeals on April 15 nixed a small part of Nashville's transit improvement plan while upholding the vast majority of it. A three-judge panel ruled Metro Nashville cannot acquire land for affordable housing and parks with funds raised through the transit plan's tax surcharge. According to the judges, those projects accounted for about 1% of the plan's total surcharge revenue. Metro Law Director Wally Dietz said the impacted parts of the plan can be financed from "non-transit funds." Dietz called the court's opinion "an overwhelming victory for Metro." "I'm pleased that once again a court has sided with the people of Nashville who overwhelmingly approved Choose How You Move," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said in a statement. "The court's ruling today, once again, stands with the will of Nashvillians and allows us to implement all elements of the plan as outlined in the transit improvement program, which references the purchase of land explicitly for the construction of transit centers and related infrastructure." The ruling is the most favorable yet to the plaintiffs, former Metro Nashville Council member Emily Evans and her Committee to Stop an Unfair Tax. Evans indicated she is not done, either. She said she plans to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to hear the case next. While Evans said she thought the court agreed with her side on what she believed was "the most important argument," she hopes the state's highest court would disagree with the appeals court and invalidate the rest of the plan. "That is that the state legislature did not allow Metro to create essentially an all-purpose fund to solve all of its problems," Evans said. "If part of this plan doesn't work ... does the rest of the plan stand?" Nashville's transit plan has to comply with a 2017 state law called the IMPROVE Act that allows cities to levy a sales tax increase to directly fund a "transit improvement program." The judges said they "fail to see how the purchase of property for housing development and parks is consistent" with the law's definition of a transit improvement program. "Metro's goal is laudable, but the IMPROVE Act does not provide the means," Judge Andy Bennett wrote in the opinion. "Metro will have to find other funds to accomplish this goal." The other challenges made by Evans and her committee through attorney Kirk Clements were unsuccessful. The rest of the plan was upheld. Have questions about the justice system? Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him with questions, tips or story ideas at emealins@ Come meet me and the rest of The Tennessean's Metro team at Crieve Hall Bagel Co. on April 16 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Appeals court shoots down small portion of Nashville's transit plan
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge temporarily blocks MNPS from removing LEAD Cameron as zoned middle school
A judge granted a temporary injunction on behalf of charter school network LEAD Public Schools on Friday, blocking a move by Metro Nashville Public Schools to remove a LEAD campus as a zoned neighborhood school. LEAD filed suit against MNPS in December, arguing that a decision to remove LEAD Cameron Middle School as the default zoned school in its cluster constituted a breach of contract. The suit also argued that the move to zone students to another traditional middle school in the area would crater both its enrollment and funding and could ultimately force LEAD Cameron to close. The suit said the move would cause "extreme irreparable harm" to the school and the community around it, and asked the court to block the district's decision. LEAD is a network of public charter schools that operates five campuses in Nashville, including LEAD Cameron, which is located in the Glencliff neighborhood. The school serves a large population of students of color and students who are economically disadvantaged. Lawsuit: Nashville school rezoning will cause 'irreparable harm' to LEAD Cameron Middle The temporary injunction granted Friday means LEAD Cameron will remain a zoned middle school for the 2025-26 school year. The case is still pending, and a final decision will be made once it concludes. "This decision protects the stability of our LEAD Cameron community and ensures that our students can continue to thrive in the supportive and high-quality learning environment they deserve," LEAD said in an emailed statement issued Friday. Metro Director of Law Wally Dietz also issued a statement following the ruling. "We respectfully disagree with the ruling and are evaluating next steps," he said in an email. The suit, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, states that a 2021 agreement between LEAD and MNPS designates LEAD Cameron as a zoned school, meaning students who wish to attend public school are automatically enrolled there, unless they opt out to attend a magnet or choice school. The partnership between LEAD and the district, which began in 2010, was the first of its kind. At present, LEAD Cameron is the only public charter that also functions as a zoned public school. Charter schools are are typically governed by a nonprofit and given more autonomy in how they operate. Parents could still opt into attending LEAD Cameron if it is ultimately removed as a zoned option. Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@ or follow her on Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville schools: Removal of LEAD Cameron from zoned schools blocked
