Tennessee Republican lawmakers are calling for a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell's handling of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, adding that he will not step back.
Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogres, R-Tenn; said in a post about X that, with support from the House Judiciary Committee, it has formally requested all documents and communications from O'Connell's office related to the protection of illegal immigration.
Specifically, Ogles has requested documents related to “Amendment to Executive Order 30,” calling it a “outrageous directive that requires Nashville employees and first responders to report all communications with federal immigration authorities directly to the mayor.”
Ogles also said it is requesting internal discussions or documents regarding ice enforcement actions in Nashville or Davidson County, as well as any communications involving Metro employees and related non-governmental organizations (NGOs) regarding the arrest or detention of criminally illegal aliens within the city or county.
House GOP targets another DEM official accused of blocking ice in Delaney Hall fallout
Rep. Andy Ogres (R-TN) is asking federal agencies and committees to investigate alleged obstruction of Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell's immigration and customs enforcement operations. (Michael M. Santiago)
In addition to his posts, Ogles shared a video of his announcement.
“We've heard that. The individuals that the mayor stands are murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, sex predators, child traffickers. The list goes on,” he said. “That's why I'm always standing on the rule of law and the ice. And I don't just stand like ice. We had enough, so I'm standing in front of the ice.
“I choose communities, states and families over this type of nonsense. So, because Fredio Connell's remarks and support and potentially violate illegal immigration, the Homeland Security and Judiciary Committee will implement whether it is being used in the Mayor of Nashville, his actions, and the continued federal government. “I will not step back. I will not relent, and I will always stand up to law enforcement. I want my community, and I want to get my country back.”
DHS fires at Blue City mayor who is unhappy with the ice manipulation and provides a rap sheet to those who are charged
The Ogles announcement comes 10 days after sending a letter urging an investigation into O'Connell, accusing the Trump administration of supporting “false policies.”
O'Connell's office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the issue of Fox News Digital.
Earlier this month, ice agents working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol arrested nearly 200 people the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said were illegal immigrants.
Ice cracked at a DC area business, nearly 200 illegal immigrants arrested
US Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), agents will detain immigrants in Los Angeles, California on October 14, 2015. (Getty Images)
A DHS news release targeted O'Connell by name for comments he made in early May. “What is clear today is that people who do not share safety and community values have the authority to cause deep harm to the community.”
After his arrest, O'Connell signed an executive order aimed at tracking people's interactions with federal immigration authorities, according to WSMV4.
O'Connell also wrote to the city about the ice arrest.
“Our top priority is keeping people safe and we are deeply concerned that federal actions seem to make it difficult,” O'Connell wrote. “I understand that overnight, US immigration and customs enforcement agents detained people during enforcement action in central Tennessee. I want to be clear so that I know the details.
Blue City Mayor says ice arrests of dangerous criminals “doesn't focus on making us safer.”
Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell criticised the ice attack in Nashville, saying he was leaving the community for fear of law enforcement interactions rather than focusing on making the city safer. (Getty Images)
He added that city police have no federal immigration authorities, nor are their members trained to carry out immigration enforcement.
O'Connell also said the police department has no access to the federal immigration database.
“This type of federal enforcement action doesn't focus on making us safer and leaves people in our community for fear of interaction with law enforcement when crime is occurring,” he added. “We ask for names of those who have been detained.”
DHS said the Nashville operation resulted in the arrest of a convicted child-sex predator, a violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua member.
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“The mayor of Nashville should want foreigners who violate these crimes from the streets of America,” DHS posted on X.
Elizabeth Elkind of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
