Metro leaders push for new policies after ICE raids
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Metro Council members are pushing for more funding and new policies, including the display of signs listing immigrant's legal rights in government buildings, to support local immigrants following federal raids in Nashville.
Why it matters: The wave of new policy ideas illustrates the pinch that local leaders feel as they lead a blue city in a deeply red state.
Friction point: On one hand, the shock of the operation between the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents propelled Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Metro Council members to action.
- On the other hand, federal law grants expansive immigration enforcement powers to ICE, which enjoys broad political support from Republican leaders in the state government.
Zoom in: At a specially called meeting last week in the wake of the raids, Metro Council members hinted at legislation and funding priorities on the horizon.
- Metro Councilmember Emily Benedict said she plans to request that $10 million be diverted from the $330 million police budget to pay for legal aid services for immigrants.
- Metro Councilmember Terry Vo pushed for the creation of a community safety plan, which she tells Axios would "not rely on traditional policing." Instead, she wants to see investments in civilian-led mobile crisis teams, licensed mental health clinicians and EMTs.
- Council members also discussed displaying a sort of immigrants bill of rights on government buildings so that Nashville residents know their legal protections and how to respond to immigration enforcement.
What she's saying: Vo says she heard this week from a business owner in her district whose employees were afraid to come to work after the ICE raids.
- "I want to ensure that we're empowering our communities to shape their own vision of safety," Vo says. "I think a community safety plan includes all the various communities that are attacked, and makes sure we are centering their fears and concerns in how we address community safety."
Zoom out: Council members also expressed concerns that Nashville schools could be targeted with ICE action. Metro Nashville Public Schools director Adrienne Battle sent an email to families this week explaining how schools would respond if ICE agents show up.
- In that scenario, principals don't let agents enter the school without "explicit legal authorization." No immigration enforcers have attempted to enter MNPS schools, according to Battle's email.
- "We are committed to ensuring that our schools will continue to be safe and welcoming places for every child, every day," she said.
Catch up quick: ICE and DHS officers worked with Tennessee Highway Patrol to conduct about 150 traffic stops in south Nashville, which is home to many Hispanic residents, earlier this month. MNPD was not involved.
- Metro legal director Wally Dietz sent a letter to state and federal officials seeking the names and charges against those arrested in the raids.
- Shortly after, O'Connell and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee announced the creation of the Belonging fund to help immigrant residents.