Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell (D) is under federal investigation for allegedly “aiding and abetting” illegal immigrants and obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Representative Andy Ogles (R., Tenn.) said the Department of Homeland Security and congressional judiciary committees are looking into whether the mayor used federal tax dollars “in criminal enterprise” related to illegal immigration.
The mayor signed an executive order directing city staff to report all communications they have with ICE agents after the agency carried out an operation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to detain illegal immigrants, many of whom were criminals with gang affiliations, according to law enforcement. The operation resulted in the arrest of nearly 200 illegal immigrants.
The mayor noted federal officials have “shown us no proof” that those arrested in the operation were people “with criminal histories or criminal intent.”
“We don’t even know the names of who they’ve arrested, much less the charges,” O’Connell said earlier this month. “What we have seen is a violation of due process and the defiance of court orders.”
However, ICE says that 96 of the 196 individuals arrested had either prior convictions or pending charges.
