Metro Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell should face prosecution or a congressional probe over his recent decision to create the “Belonging Fund,” which the mayor called a joint project by Nashville and the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT).
Announced on May 5 by O’Connell’s office, the “Belonging Fund” is designed to provide “financial resources to nonprofit emergency organizations offering emergency assistance” to illegal immigrants who “face sudden and destabilizing challenges,” in the wake of the joint immigration enforcement operation by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Though a joint venture of Nashville and CFMT, the mayor’s office said it was seeded with more than $30,000 from three nonprofits, including the group tapped by the Biden administration to help release thousands of illegal immigrants into Tennessee.
U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), whose district includes much of Nashville, first said that the mayor appears to be “interfering with ICE” operations during an appearance on Fox 17.
“So Freddie O’Connell, the mayor, if he wants to side with criminals, that’s his choice,” said Ogles. “I’m going to side with the people of Tennessee, and we’re going to uphold the law. I stand with Kristi Noem. I stand with our law enforcement. I stand with ICE, and we’re not going to back down.”
In a post to the social media platform X, which included an excerpt from the interview, Ogles suggested he would lead congressional action to rein in the mayor.
Mayor O’Connell is obstructing ICE and protecting criminals, including traffickers and a convicted child predator. That’s not leadership—it’s lawlessness.
If any Nashville agency undermines federal enforcement, I’ll use every tool in Congress to hold them accountable.
Tennessee… pic.twitter.com/NTB2i6Z28B
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) May 14, 2025
“Mayor O’Connell is obstructing ICE and protecting criminals, including traffickers and a convicted child predator. That’s not leadership—it’s lawlessness. If any Nashville agency undermines federal enforcement, I’ll use every tool in Congress to hold them accountable,” wrote Ogles.
Highlighting an interaction with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, who confirmed it is a crime to aid or abet illegal immigrants seeking to evade law enforcement, Ogles said he would formally request a congressional probe.
“I will be formally requesting that the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees investigate Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Nashville city officials for their repeated obstruction of ICE operations,” said Ogles. “Stay tuned.”
🚨Is aiding and abetting illegal aliens to evade law enforcement a crime?
Sec. Noem: Yes.
I will be formally requesting that the Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees investigate Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Nashville city officials for their repeated obstruction of ICE… pic.twitter.com/vAmDC2XjIH
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) May 14, 2025
After O’Connell received criticism for the fund from DHS, which said Nashville “would rather protect illegal aliens than American citizens,” the Metro Council Immigrant Caucus released a statement which accused the federal agency of spreading “misinformation,” with the lawmakers noting, “The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Conexion Americas, and Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors committed more than $30,000 to help seed the new fund.”
Federal tax filings reveal the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition has received around $3 million in government grants over the last five years.
The joint law enforcement operation between ICE and THP resulted in 196 arrests of criminal illegal immigrants, DHS said on Tuesday.
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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].
Photo “Congressman Andy Ogles” by Congressman Andy Ogles. Photo “Freddie O’Connell” by Freddie O’Connell.
