www.thecentersquare.com – By Kim Jarrett | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-13 15:04:00
An operation involving ICE, DHS, ATF, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol led to 196 arrests, with 96 individuals having prior criminal convictions or pending charges. Some had felony convictions for domestic assault, rape, and drug possession. Thirty-one individuals had been previously removed from the U.S. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell criticized the operation, highlighting its negative impact on the community and announcing a fund to support immigrants. DHS responded by sharing a snippet of O’Connell’s criticism, emphasizing the operation’s success in removing individuals deemed a safety threat to Tennessee residents.
(The Center Square) — An enforcement operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security components, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol resulted in 196 arrests, ICE said Tuesday.
Ninety-six of those arrested had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges, the agency said. Those with criminal records included an individual who had been removed from the U.S. six times and had convictions for felony domestic assault and sex with a minor. Others had convictions for rape, drug possession and reckless aggravated assault, the agency said.
Another 31 had previously been removed from the U.S. because they were here illegally.
“This enforcement effort underscores ICE’s unwavering commitment to public safety and the rule of law. Our officers are focused on identifying and removing individuals who pose a threat to the safety and security of Tennessee residents,” said acting ERO New Orleans Field Office Director Brian Acuna. “During the operation I witnessed the men and women of the Tennessee Highway Patrol carry out significant public safety efforts. The New Orleans Field Office is grateful for their support.”
The operation was criticized by some, including Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. He announced a new fund on May 5, two days after the initial arrest by ICE, that would help immigrants as part of a partnership with Metro Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
“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,” O’Connell said. “Their approach is not our understanding of what a Nashville for All of Us looks like, and we’re grateful to our community partners who make all of our residents feel welcome.”
The Department of Homeland Security posted a snippet of O’Connell’s speech on its X page.
“Despite the success of this enforcement operation, the Nashville Mayor has claimed these operations were done by ‘people who do not share our values of safety,'” the department said in the post.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article primarily reports on an ICE enforcement operation and includes statements from both ICE officials and a Democratic city mayor expressing opposing views. While the content presents factual information about the arrests and quotes from officials on both sides, the framing emphasizes the details of criminal convictions among the arrested individuals and includes a critical tone towards the mayor’s response by highlighting the Department of Homeland Security’s rebuttal on social media. The language used by ICE and DHS is presented without critique, and the focus on law enforcement success aligns with a perspective that prioritizes strict immigration enforcement, a viewpoint commonly associated with center-right or conservative stances. However, the article does give space to the mayor’s criticism and efforts supporting immigrants, which suggests some balance. Overall, the tone and selection of details lean slightly toward a center-right position rather than neutral reporting.
SUMMARY: A recent Tennessee Education Survey of nearly 40,000 teachers reveals most middle and high school teachers find cellphone use disruptive, with 73% reporting cheating via phones. While 94% say schools restrict phone use during class, half of high school teachers want a full campus ban. A new state law bans wireless devices during instruction but lets districts set specific rules. Teacher retention is driven mainly by school culture, despite only a third being satisfied with pay. Most teachers support current discipline methods and evaluations, with early-career teachers spending more time on discipline but generally satisfied with evaluations improving their teaching.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a new initiative at the Tennessee State Fair to end subsidies for solar panels on farmland while redirecting agriculture grants. The Trump administration recently cut more than \$31 million from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, with Rollins defending the move as prioritizing farmers. Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden called the cuts a “repurposing” away from clean energy and racial equity programs. Rollins pledged nearly \$89 million for rural development in 28 Tennessee counties and highlighted \$100 million already distributed to farmers. She also cited new trade agreements to offset tariff-related cost increases.
U.S. Agriculture officials announced a new initiative Monday to stop subsidies for solar energy panels that take up farmland while supporting cuts in agriculture grants to Tennessee universities.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins introduced the initiative by the Trump administration after a Future Farmers of America breakfast at the State Fairgrounds in Lebanon where she said the federal government will make new grants to bolster Tennessee farming while targeting grants that don’t help farmers’ production.
Rollins criticized the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and “market distorting incentives” for solar panels, which she said are eliminating Tennessee farmland.
The secretary made the statements even though a study by the nonpartisan Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations found that solar facilities aren’t likely to be the “primary driver” of development on farmland for decades. The study also determined that land can be returned to farming once a solar facility goes out of use.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn speaks at a Future Farmers of America breakfast featuring U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Aug. 28, 2025. Standing behind Blackburn is Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Rep. John Rose. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Earlier this year, the federal government made dramatic cuts to higher education grants, including eliminating more than $31 million in funding to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, which houses agricultural research and resources for Tennessee farmers and communities in 95 counties.
Rollins defended the reductions, saying “Those cuts were being made in programs that did not align with the president’s vision of putting farmers first.”
Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden of Tennessee described the reduction as a “repurposing” and said changes were made in research funding based on whether a grant “helps a farmer in the field make more money.” Projects aimed at “clean energy” or based on “racial criteria” were eliminated, he said.
In addition to stopping solar panel development on farmland, Rollins announced that nearly $89 million will go toward 13 rural development projects in 28 Tennessee counties to “promote partnerships” and infrastructure investments for rural education. The department has distributed nearly $100 million this year to more than 10,000 farmers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program, according to Rollins.
Some farmers have said they expect prices to increase because of President Donald Trump’s tariffs, which are forcing them to pass on higher rates to customers. Rollins said Monday the administration has signed eight new trade agreements expected to boost the nation’s economy.
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Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article largely reports on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ policy announcements but introduces balancing context that slightly shifts the tone. While it covers her criticisms of the Biden administration and defense of Trump-era cuts, it also highlights a nonpartisan Tennessee study contradicting her claims about solar panels reducing farmland. This inclusion, along with details on higher education grant cuts and references to “racial criteria” in funding, frames the administration’s moves with a degree of skepticism. The reporting avoids overt editorializing but leans toward questioning Republican policies, giving it a mild Center-Left tilt.
SUMMARY: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced proposed changes to SNAP benefits during the Wilson County State Fair. The plan includes waivers to expand access to healthy foods and eliminate items where sugar is the main ingredient. Rollins noted that over 10% of SNAP’s $100 billion annual budget goes to sugary drinks and junk food, calling it an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars. Lee emphasized the goal of prioritizing nutrition. Rollins also announced nearly $90 million for rural development projects and confirmed the USDA will end funding for solar panels on productive farmland.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Gov. Bill Lee explained they have submitted two waivers to clarify what SNAP benefits can be used for.
