From left, betzbet rojas, 25, and unimare estrada, 24, protest the detention of their husbands, thought to be on immigration and customs enforcement buses after a may 4 dragnet by immigration and customs enforcement and the tennessee highway patrol. Sarah shoop neumann, center, joins the protest. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Ice agents take a man into custody during a may sweep of a predominantly immigrant nashville neighborhood as a tennessee highway patrol officer looks on. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Secretary of homeland security kristi noem speaking at a july press conference at the homeland security facility in nashville, called kilmar abrego garcia a “monster” and said she hopes a federal judge in the case “will do the right thing” in convicting him. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Kilmar Abrego Garcia, center, accompanied by attorney Rascoe Dean, far left, was released from thee Putnam County Jail on August 22, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout)Five people were detained after appearing in robertson county general sessions “trooper docket” for traffic violations by masked and uniformed officers. (photo john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Felipe mendez and his sons stand beside their luggage outside the tornado bus station on nolensville road in nashville on oct. 13, 2025. Mendez was told by immigration officials if he did not leave the u. S. On his own, his children would be taken from him and he would be deported. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)
Federal agencies, Tennessee National Guard, descend on Shelby County for Memphis Safe Task Force
Tennessee National Guard patrol different sections of Memphis., They are carrying side arms and tasers. Photographs by John Partipilo/Tennessee LookoutThe collective good immigrant pantry, a project of indivisible memphis, has seen a spike in requests for food since a federal law enforcement task force arrived in the city. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Officers from tennessee highway patrol, homeland security investigations, the u. S. Marshals service and the fbi responded to a. Traffic stop on lamar ave. In memphis, tennessee on oct. 7, 2025. They detained the driver for at least 45 minutes while they searched his car, then let him go with a citation for a loose front bumper. (photograph by john partipilo/tennessee lookout)
Politics: Candidates announce for 2026, special election makes headlines
Ou. S. Sen. Marsha blackburn at ag day on the hill. Blackburn formally announced her 2026 gubernatorial run in july. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)U. S. Rep. John rose hugs supporter natisha brooks at his march gubernatorial campaign. Announcement. (photo:john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Rep. Justin j. Pearson, a memphis democrat, held a campaign kickoff campaign rally for his run for for tennessee’s 9th congressional district. He will challenge veteran u. S. Rep. Steve cohen in the democratic primary. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Republican matt van epps narrowly won the special election for tennessee’s 7th congressional district. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)U. S. House speaker mike johnson, in tennessee on dec. 1, 2025, to boost voter turnout for republican matt van epps in a special congressional race, called president donald trump from the stage of a rally. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Rep. Aftyn behn, a nashville democrat, came within nine percentage points of beating republican matt van epps in the dec. 2 special election for tennessee’s 7th congressional district. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)
The Tennessee legislature action
Nashville psychologist lynne mcfarland, 80, is held by a tennessee state trooper after several troopers carried her from a senate committee room. Mcfarland would not leave her seat after the committee chair cleared the room of spectators. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Former tennessee house speaker glen casada, leaving the fred d. Thompson federal courthouse in nashville on sept. 23, 2025 after sentencing for his role in a corruption scheme. President donald trump pardoned casada weeks later. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)Rev. Rick roberts, pastor of st. John’s lutheran church in donelson and rev. Matt steinhauer, interim pastor of st. Andrews lutheran church in franklin, knelt in front of lawmakers debating a bill to deny an education to some immigrant children during the spring session of the tennessee legislature. The bill ultimately failed to pass. (photo: john partipilo/tennessee lookout)