• More than 100 arrests made in Tennessee during a joint ICE operation.
• Local officials and immigrant rights advocates express fears of racial profiling.
• Operation includes stops for minor vehicle infractions in immigrant-heavy neighborhoods.
• Governor Lee supports the operation, citing public safety measures.
• Immigrants fear prolonged detention and possible deportation without legal counsel.

In a recent operation that has left Nashville's immigrant community unsettled, federal immigration officials, in collaboration with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, arrested over 100 individuals suspected of immigration violations. This operation, beginning on May 3, has raised concerns about how local law enforcement plays a crucial role in the implementation of President Trump’s mass deportation policies. The Highway Patrol reported making 588 stops, culminating in the detention of 103 individuals, as stated by officials aiming to enhance public safety by also seizing illegal drugs and firearms during the operation, which included a suspect in a homicide from El Salvador, according to sfgate, indiatimes, and latimes.

Local officials, including Nashville Law Director Wally Dietz, expressed surprise at the operation, asserting that the city government was not apprised of its details. This has led to a growing sense of uncertainty among community members about the implications of such actions. The operation aligns with Governor Bill Lee’s recent legislative efforts to enhance immigration enforcement through a new division under the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, illustrating strong support among Republican officials for such initiatives, according to sfgate and latimes.

Critics, including Lisa Sherman Luna of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, argue that the operation reflects systemic racial profiling, as stops were predominantly conducted for minor traffic infractions in neighborhoods mostly inhabited by people of color. Luna noted, “What we’ve heard is that THP is flagging people down for things like a broken taillight or tinted windows,” expressing concern for those who agree to deportation out of fear instead of waiting for legal representation, according to indiatimes and latimes.

With approximately 9% of Nashville’s 2 million residents being immigrants—many of whom are from Mexico and Honduras, as revealed by the Migration Policy Institute—this operation has triggered fear of destabilizing the community's vibrant diversity. Sherman Luna emphasized the operation serves to instill fear within these neighborhoods, claiming, “It’s a strategy to strike fear into our vibrant, diverse, beautiful neighborhoods,” drawing attention to the urgent need for legal support for those affected, according to latimes and sfgate.