Nashville mayor faces House probe for allegedly interfering with ICE enforcement
Two powerful committees in the House of Representatives have launched an investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a Democratic official accused of obstructing federal immigration authorities. House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., is spearheading the probe alongside Nashville-area Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn.
Ogles had been pushing for an inquiry into O’Connell after the mayor publicly criticized Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Nashville and issued an executive order aimed at monitoring ICE activities in the area. The investigation is also supported by the House Judiciary Committee, led by Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., who heads the subcommittee for immigration enforcement.
In a joint letter to O’Connell, the lawmakers expressed concerns that the mayor’s executive order mandating government employees to report interactions with federal immigration authorities could hinder law enforcement’s ability to communicate freely with ICE. They highlighted the potential for the order to compromise ICE enforcement operations and warned that it could have a chilling effect on local law enforcement.
The probe comes in the wake of ICE arrests in Nashville, where nearly 200 individuals deemed as illegal immigrants, including criminals with gang affiliations, were apprehended. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) singled out O’Connell for criticism over his remarks following the arrests, with the mayor expressing frustration over what he perceived as flaws in the immigration enforcement process.
O’Connell also drew scrutiny for his involvement in launching the Nashville government’s nonprofit, “The Belonging Fund,” which assists illegal immigrants with urgent care needs. Republicans have raised questions about the fund’s transparency and the potential misuse of donations to aid individuals evading the law.
The investigation into O’Connell marks another escalation in the immigration battle between Democratic officials and the Trump administration. This follows the recent controversy involving House Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who faced charges for assaulting an officer after forcibly entering a Newark ICE detention center with two other House Democrats.
Fox News Digital reached out to O’Connell’s office for comment on the letter. The unfolding probe underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration enforcement at the local level and the divisive debate over sanctuary policies and collaboration with federal authorities. Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, is at the forefront of covering developments related to the House of Representatives.
Follow her on Twitter at @liz_elkind for the latest updates and insights on this unfolding story.
