Rep. Andy Ogles announced that a pair of Congressional committees will investigate Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell in response to O’Connell’s disapproval of recent immigration raids in the city.
During a rare local press availability on Monday, Ogles, whose Congressional district includes parts of Nashville, accused O’Connell of “aiding and abetting illegal immigration” and protecting violent criminals.
“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 announced, flanked by Republican state lawmakers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Ogles offered little detail in the accusations against O’Connell, but was apparently condemning the mayor’s refusal to participate in or expend Metro Nashville Police Department resources on an early May raid of South Nashville, during which roughly 500 cars were stopped and nearly 200 people were arrested by ICE with the help of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
While a handful of Tennessee law enforcement agencies have signed on to help ICE with enforcement in recent months, Nashville, at O’Connell’s direction, turned down a request to cooperate with ICE during this month’s actions.
(READ MORE: In deal with ICE, Tennessee troopers to get new enforcement powers)
After community members questioned Metro’s involvement, O’Connell doubled down on opposing the sting, describing the operation as “people who do not share our values of safety and community” having the authority to “cause deep community harm.” O’Connell’s office did not respond to requests for comment Monday.
When the Nashville Banner asked Ogles what law he believed O’Connell had violated, the congressman simply stated, “that’s why we’re going to have an investigation.”
Ogles said a letter detailing the investigation has been drafted and would be sent to the mayor in the next couple of days, noting that fellow Tennessee Republican Congressman Mark Green, chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, would also sign on but was not available to attend the event. Sen. Marsha Blackburn also sent a letter supporting Ogles’ press conference and accusing Democrats like O’Connell of “demonizing” law enforcement.
While several Metro Nashville Council members responded to the raids with outrage, David Benton – who represents part of Antioch, a neighborhood with a largely Latino population that was heavily targeted during the raid – stood in support of Ogles, also criticizing O’Connell.
“Right now, we have an illegal invasion and support within our own ranks,” Benton said.
“Illegal aliens are criminals,” Benton continued. “It’s cruel for city officials to encourage illegal aliens to remain in the United States as if they can shield them against ICE enforcement.”
Council member Zulfat Suara took to Instagram to counter Benton on Monday, asking “who are they, where are they, and where is their due process” of the people in federal custody.
‘GET MESSY’
Pushback also mounted outside of Ogles’ event, which was held in the otherwise closed state Capitol, where only speakers, staff and some members of the press were allowed.
Though the former Tennessee Supreme Court chamber where Ogles and others spoke was shrouded by thick wooden blinds, a crowd of around 100 protesters disrupted the event, banging on windows, blowing an air horn and chanting their opposition to Ogles and ICE.
After Ogles; Sen. Jack Johnson, R-Franklin; Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin; Rep. Gino Bulso, R-Brentwood; and Rep. Kip Capley, R- Summertown, spoke in favor of ICE and against O’Connell’s stance on immigration, Ogles briefly fielded questions about the investigation.
It was during that session that Ogles said he believed only citizens were entitled to due process and dismissed a question about raids causing fear in Nashville’s Latino community, noting that “it may even get messy as we go forward.”
Asked what he meant by “messy,” Ogles seemed to warn that more deportation efforts would be forthcoming.
“As people are deported, you’re going to see sobbing, tears and crying and all the other stuff,” Ogles said. “Look, if I go to Disney World and I sneak in with my three kids, you know what would happen if we get caught? They’d kick us the hell out.”
The officials were also joined by a woman who says her home suffered extensive damage and was robbed of a safe containing valuables and sentimental items when a group of four South Americans broke into her Brentwood home, in an apparently coordinated attack similar to other recent burglaries in the affluent Nashville suburb.
Though Brentwood has its own mayor and police department, separate from Metro and O’Connell, the speakers argued that crimes in surrounding areas were a product of Nashville’s reluctance to crack down on immigration.
“I will not back down, I will not relent, and I will always stand with law enforcement,” Ogles added. “I want my community and I want my country back.”
This article first appeared on Nashville Banner and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.