Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is under federal investigation for allegedly “aiding and abetting” undocumented immigrants and interfering with the work of ICE agents.
According to Tennessee Representative Andy Ogles, the Department of Homeland Security and congressional judiciary committees are examining whether O’Connell misused federal funds in connection with immigration-related activities.
O’Connell, a progressive Democrat, had publicly criticized a major ICE operation that resulted in the arrest of several undocumented immigrants — some reportedly linked to gangs — and later issued an executive order requiring city employees to document all interactions with federal immigration agents.
“At this point, we’ve heard the allegations — the individuals the mayor is supporting include murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, sexual predators, and child traffickers,” said Representative Andy Ogles during a Monday press conference at the Tennessee State Capitol.
“I will always stand in defense of the rule of law and with ICE,” Ogles added. “In fact, I don’t just stand with ICE — I’ll stand in front of them, because the American people have had enough.”
“Because of Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s remarks and the possibility that he may have aided illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security and the congressional judiciary committees will launch an investigation into his actions,” Representative Andy Ogles said. “They will examine whether federal funds were used in any unlawful activity.”
Ogles had previously sent a letter to ICE and the judiciary committees requesting a formal investigation into the mayor, who has been accused by the Trump administration of backing policies that favor undocumented immigrants and hinder immigration enforcement.
Earlier this month, ICE agents, in coordination with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, arrested nearly 200 undocumented immigrants in a joint operation — many of whom were reportedly affiliated with gangs or had criminal records.
A woman weeps as a bus carrying detainees departs from the DHS field office in Nashville, where several immigrant rights groups had gathered in protest.
Following the arrests, Mayor O’Connell signed an executive order mandating that city departments notify the mayor’s office within a specified time frame after any communication with federal immigration authorities, according to The Tennessean.
Representative Ogles criticized the order, calling it “an outrageous directive.”
“If you’re aiding violent gangs by obstructing ICE operations in Tennessee, you deserve to be behind bars,” Ogles wrote on social media after the press conference.
