Progressive Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is being investigated by the feds for allegedly “aiding and abetting” illegal immigrants and obstructing ICE agents.
The Department of Homeland Security and congressional judiciary committees are probing whether O’Connell used federal tax dollars “in criminal enterprise” related to illegal immigration, Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles announced.
The progressive mayor had condemned a huge Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation that nabbed immigrants — many criminals with gang affiliations — and then signed an executive order making city staff report all communications they have with agents.
“We’ve heard it: the individuals that the mayor is standing with are murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, sexual predators, child traffickers…the list goes on,” Ogles said Monday at a press conference at the Tennessee State capital building.
“I will always stand on the rule of law and with ICE. And I don’t just stand with ICE; I’ll stand in front of ICE because we the people have had enough,” the Republican lawmaker said.
“Due to the remarks of Freddie O’Connell and the potential for aiding and abetting illegal immigration, 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 continued.
Ogles had previously sent a letter to ICE and the judiciary committees urging them to investigate the mayor — whom the Trump administration has accused of supporting “pro-illegal policies” — for obstructing ICE operations.
ICE agents working with the Tennessee Highway Patrol had busted nearly 200 immigrants — many criminals with gang affiliations — in a joint operation earlier this month.
After the arrests, O’Connell signed an executive order requiring city departments to inform the mayor’s office within a certain time frame after communicating with federal immigration authorities, according to The Tennessean.
Ogles called the executive order “an outrageous directive.”
“If you’re helping violent gangs destroy Tennessee by obstructing ICE — you belong behind bars,” Ogles’ posted on social media following the press conference.
DHS called out O’Connell by name after the operations and claimed O’Connell “stands by pro-illegal policies, claiming that these operations were done by ‘people who do not share our values of safety.’”
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