Tennessee faith leaders criticize ICE anti-immigrant action, “harassment” of Nashville mayor

Tennessee fatih leaders are criticizing immigration raids and what they term political harassment of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tennessee’s three bishops from the Tennessee Catholic Conference on Friday pushed back on actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during recent sweeps of Nashville communities while faith leaders from another group condemned “harassment” of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell by Republican leaders. 

In a joint statement, Bishops J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, David P. Talley of Memphis and Mark Beckman of Knoxville said May traffic dragnets in predominantly immigrant neighborhoods of Nashville have “spread fear.” 

“We are particularly concerned by reports that recent enforcement efforts in the Nashville area have extended beyond individuals charged with serious crimes or those subject to final deportation orders,” the statement said. “In the current climate, many individuals face a lack of due process, which contributes to widespread fear, especially the fear of being detained while simply attending Mass or participating in parish life.”

In a similar vein, a Methodist pastor, speaking on behalf of the nonprofit Southern Christian Coalition, which represents churches of several denominations, accused U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, both Republicans, of “targeted political harassment” of O’Connell. 

“While Mayor O’Connell has tried to provide responsible local leadership protecting constituents through legal means, Marsha Blackburn has introduced a bill targeting the mayor and promised to ‘use every tool in the Senate to investigate’ him,” said the Rev. Keri Cress of Glendale United Methodist Church in a video. “This coordinated harassment of a local leader doing his job is just political theater.”

Ogles held a Memorial Day press conference in the Tennessee Capitol at which he denounced O’Connell, a Democrat, for “aiding and abetting illegal immigration” and accused O’Connell both of obstructing the work of ICE agents and “doxxing” agents. The latter came after the names of three agents were posted in a log documenting interactions between Metro Nashville and federal agencies — and were subsequently removed from the site. 

On June 2, the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees sent a letter to O’Connell demanding a series of documents by June 12. Blackburn filed a bill Thursday that would create a penalty of up to five years in prison for anyone publicly identifying federal agents.