Nashville leaders create fund to help immigrant community following ICE operation
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Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said state and federal law enforcement had caused "deep community harm" with a weekend operation that centered on neighborhoods with large Hispanic populations.
The latest: O'Connell said he spoke briefly over the phone with Gov. Bill Lee following the state and federal operation. He said he "flagged that this seems like a moment of significant tension increase."
Driving the news: O'Connell emphasized that Metro Nashville Police Department officers were not involved in the series of about 150 traffic stops in South Nashville neighborhoods with heavy Hispanic populations.
- Metro legal director Wally Dietz sent a letter to state and federal officials seeking the names and charges against those arrested in the raids.
What he's saying: "What's clear is that federal and state authorities are intent on enforcing immigration law," O'Connell said. "Their approach is not our understanding of what a 'Nashville for all of us' looks like."
The other side: "As part of our ongoing mission to uphold U.S. immigration laws, our targeted enforcement operations are specifically focused on individuals who threaten public safety or national security," an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.
State of play: O'Connell hosted a Monday afternoon press conference with Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee CEO Hal Cato.
- Cato announced a new fund to help Nashville's immigrant community, especially those affected by the federal operation.
- The mayor's office is working to determine whether money in O'Connell's recently proposed budget could be earmarked for the fund.
Zoom in: Cato said the Belonging fund will be used to address child care, transportation, housing assistance, food insecurity and "anything else they need."
- "We want to make sure the immigrant community in this town knows that we have their back," Cato said.
Reality check: Metro's ability to respond to federal sweeps is limited. President Trump has made immigration enforcement a cornerstone of his term, and Republican state leaders have vowed to help.
- Earlier this year, they passed a law that made it a felony for local officials to pass "sanctuary" policies.