by J. Holly McCall and Sam Stockard, Tennessee Lookout
May 8, 2025

Tennessee Republican leaders are leaning into a “law and order” position following a weekend of traffic stops and detentions of immigrants in Nashville. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Tuesday that the agency has arrested 84 people without permanent legal status since Saturday in the state’s capital city. 

According to ICE, those arrested include one alleged member of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuela-based gang; a person with a conviction for drug possession; an individual allegedly convicted of felony domestic assault and sex with a minor and one person for an alleged conviction of reckless aggravated assault. No information was provided on the other 80 people arrested.

Despite public consternation about what critics described as a roundup, Tennessee’s Republican leaders are backing the enforcement action in which dozens of traffic stops were made in south Nashville.

A statement from the Tennessee House Republican Caucus said, “Tennessee will have zero tolerance for those who prove to be a threat to public safety, whether here legally or illegally.”

050625-caucus statement on ICE arrests

“Republicans in the General Assembly in 2024 proudly provided law enforcement agencies at every level across this state with the authority to work with the appropriate federal authorities when they encounter someone who is determined to be in this country illegally.”  

Lawmakers approved creation of a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Bureau during a special session this year at a cost of about $6 million. Six to seven people are to work in the bureau, and grants are to be made to local law enforcement agencies to hire officers and work with the federal government on immigration enforcement.

Davidson County’s legislative delegation and Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell are asking federal officials for more information about the weekend arrests, which followed what some lawmakers have termed a “dragnet” in a South Nashville area that is home to many immigrants. 

According to reports, Tennessee Highway Patrol officers stopped about 150 drivers early Sunday morning for alleged traffic infractions. The highway patrol described the action as a “public safety operation that targeted areas of suspected gang activity with a history of serious traffic crashes” — an allegation disputed by Davidson County lawmakers, who in a letter, accuse the state law enforcement agency of “ethnically and racially profiling” drivers. 

Elizabeth Lane Johnson, Gov. Bill Lee’s press secretary said, “Tennessee has a long track record of stepping up to secure our nation’s borders and strengthen public safety. President Trump made it clear that states would play a major role in enforcing immigration laws and removing the most violent offenders, and Americans overwhelmingly elected him to do so.”

Johnson also noted Lee’s establishment of the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division, headed by immigration czar Ryan Hubbard. Lee named Hubbard, a former U.S. Border Patrol agent, to the post on April 17. 

During a Monday press conference, O’Connell said he had spoken with Lee and “flagged that this seems like a moment of significant tension increase between local and state.”

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Franklin Republican who sponsored the bill creating the new bureau, said the legislature’s intent was clear: “To support the enforcement of federal immigration law in coordination with our federal partners.” Previously, state and local authorities have shied away from enforcing immigration law.

Johnson said entering or remaining in the country illegally is a violation of federal law, and he added that the enforcement action is “entirely consistent” with the legislature’s plan for “upholding the rule of law and ensuring our state is a strong partner in the enforcement of immigration policy.”

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.

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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

This content leans center-right as it presents a viewpoint supportive of strict immigration enforcement typically associated with conservative and Republican policies. It emphasizes law and order, highlights legislative actions supporting immigration enforcement, and features statements from Republican leaders defending these measures. However, it also includes perspectives from local officials who express concern over the tactics used, adding some balance and preventing the piece from being overtly partisan. The overall tone is aligned with conservative enforcement priorities but with acknowledgment of differing views within the community.