EN ESPAÑOL: Alcalde de Nashville asegura que la policía de Metro no participó en operativos de ICE
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell is continuing to speak out after weekend traffic stops led to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainments in the city.
On Monday morning, O’Connell shared that he was “heartbroken” for Nashvillians who are experiencing “family separation rather than the safety we all deserve.”
He added that his office is continuing to work to find more information as to what took place. O’Connell also said that, based on public statements, “That state and federal officials coordinated without us to engage in traffic enforcement actions clearly intended to target immigration concerns.”
Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers led a ‘public safety operation’ Saturday night that also included Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE agents. The agencies said they were conducting the operation in areas with a history of serious traffic crashes and gang activity.
Several vehicles were pulled for traffic violations, and THP said some drivers were found without valid licenses or identification. THP said Federal agents handled those situations, including immigration-related matters.
According to immigration rights groups, some of whom witnessed the traffic stops, this included areas of South Nashville, Antioch, and Paragon Mills.
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“I’m heartbroken that Nashville today is experiencing fear over family separation rather than the safety we all deserve. The trauma inflicted on families is long-lasting, and I’m doing everything in my power, consistent with applicable law, to protect anyone who calls Nashville home. What’s clear today is that people who do not share our values of safety and community have the authority to cause deep community harm.
We’re still working to determine more about what happened over the weekend, but what we know right now based on public statements is that state and federal officials coordinated without us to engage in traffic enforcement actions clearly intended to target immigration concerns. MNPD has asserted to us that they were not involved in these actions.
My office is in contact with MNPD to ensure we keep the public updated and deliver accurate information and the accountability the community deserves.”
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, Title II, Section 264, anyone 18 years of age and older, legally allowed to be in the U.S., must carry their registration or receipt card at all times and have it in their personal possession. If not, the federal law states that a person “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction for each offense, be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.
Over the weekend, O’Connell expressed his deep concern over the detainments and said that his office is working to learn the names of those detained. He made it clear, along with his updated Monday statement, that officers with the Metro Nashville Police Department were not involved in any traffic stops.
This remains a developing story.
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