Tennessee Congressman Vows to Investigate Nashville Mayor on ICE Cooperation

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is spearheading an effort to ensure the Nashville city government in his state is cooperating with federal immigration enforcement.

Nashville is the state capital as well as the most populous city of Tennessee with a population of more than 700,000 people. The city is also the capital of country music in a deep red state, but like most other urban areas around the country has a Democrat as mayor, Freddie O’Connell. 

During a press conference on Monday, Ogles said he would be launching an investigation into the conduct of the mayor of Nashville regarding his cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“I choose my community, my state, and my family over this type of nonsense, which is why, due to the remarks of Freddie O’Connell and the potential for aiding and abetting illegal immigration, the Homeland Security and the Judiciary committees will be conducting an investigation into the mayor of Nashville, his conduct and whether or not federal dollars have been used in criminal enterprise,” Ogles explained. 

In early May, ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested 196 illegal aliens, many of whom have criminal histories extending far beyond just entering the country illegally.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 95 of the individuals had pending criminal charges or had already been criminally convicted, and 31 had previously been removed from the country.

According to the federal agency, one of the illegal aliens arrested, Jassim Jafaf Al-Raash, had been previously convicted of rape, had previously been arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, and had a final order of removal dated Sept. 1, 2021.

O’Connell had publicly derided the ICE raid at a press conference saying, “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.” The mayor said the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department had not been involved in the raid. 

“This type of federal enforcement action is not focused on making us safer and leaves people in our community fearing any interaction with law enforcement when there is a crime occurring,” the mayor also wrote, adding: “We will be seeking the names of those detained.” 

Other individuals arrested in the raid include Franklin Oswaldo Velasquez, said to be an MS-13 affiliate, and who has an active “Red Notice” on him in El Salvador for aggravated murder, and Inmar Antonio Penado-Membreno, who was previously convicted of aggravated assault, according to DHS.

O’Connell has also promoted the Belonging Fund, which he has characterized as a fundraising effort to help “families known to be impacted as a result of activities related to immigration.”

“He’s choosing criminals over Tennesseans,” Ogles said of O’Connell. 

The Tennessee congressman is soliciting documents related to an action called Executive Order 30 by Nashville’s mayor, which requires all Nashville employees and first responders to “report all communication with federal immigration authorities directly to the mayor.”

Ogles will also be seeking documents related to ICE in internal communications by local officials and nongovernmental organizations that partner with the local government in Nashville and surrounding Davidson County, of which Nashville is the county seat.

O’Connell contends that he is not hindering immigration laws’ enforcement. “We are not looking to obstruct any federal or state law. Don’t have any reason to be concerned,” the mayor insisted. 

In a statement to The Daily Signal, Ogles explained that it was the mayor’s public remarks that prompted his investigation.

“Democrat Mayor of Nashville Freddie O’Connell made concerning remarks regarding the deportation of illegal aliens, indicating local government might be playing a role in helping them evade law enforcement. If true, Mayor O’Connell is directly defying federal orders to remove dangerous illegal aliens from our communities and obstructing justice,” the congressman explained.

“Violent gang members have been found throughout middle Tennessee, and enough is enough. There should be no tolerance among the people for bad actors, such as Mayor O’Connell. I am proud to stand with President [Donald] Trump, ICE, and state and local law enforcement to deport any individual residing in the United States illegally,” Ogles continued.

“We must get to the bottom of Mayor O’Connell’s actions, which is why I am pleased to be working with [Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio] and the House Judiciary Committee to open a congressional investigation,” the Tennessee lawmaker said.

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