The Tennessee House Republican Caucus on Tuesday said the recent wave of arrests by federal officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which occurred during a joint law enforcement operation on Sunday and Monday, come after state lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at making the Volunteer State a less attractive destination for illegal immigrants.
ICE confirmed the joint operation with Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) had resulted in more than 150 traffic stops as of Monday, and it has since been reported that the stops led to 84 arrests of individuals in the country illegally, with those arrested including a member of the Venezuelan prison gang, Tren de Aragua, a convicted child sex offender, and a number of gang members.
Noting that Republicans in the General Assembly led the passage of Public Chapter 716 last year, which mandated law enforcement agencies to notify federal agencies of illegal immigrant arrests, the House Republican Caucus said the legislation paved the way for the law enforcement activity.
The Republicans wrote, “we aim to demagnetize Tennessee from the burdens created by the Biden administration’s disastrous national security policies,” and added that they “fully support the arrest of anyone who is violating our laws.”
They proceeded to argue that Nashvillians should be concerned by the opposition to the arrests by local Democrats, including Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who DHS singled out after he claimed the agency made the city less safe by enforcing immigration laws.
During the operation in Tennessee, ICE agents arrested a convicted child sex predator, a member of Tren de Aragua, an individual convicted of aggravated assault, and multiple aliens with drug charges. The Nashville Mayor should want these criminal illegal aliens off American… pic.twitter.com/27UVncviTk
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 6, 2025
“Nashville residents should be highly concerned that their elected Democrat leaders choose to prioritize the well-being of criminals who are here illegally over their law-abiding constituents,” wrote the caucus. “The Democrat Party’s pro-criminal, pro-illegal immigration, defund the police agenda and disdain for the rule of law have left communities defenseless and families shattered. They have truly lost their way.”
The Republicans added, “Tennesseans deserve a government that understands its sacred obligation to prioritize the safety, security, financial and economic well-being of those who are lawfully here. Tennessee Republicans are committed to delivering exactly that.”
Earlier this year, the Tennessee General Assembly passed new immigration legislation during a special legislative session, creating the new Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIEO), a new division of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDOSHS) created to enforce immigration laws.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
