NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Two federal committees have launched an investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell over allegations that he may have “aided and abetted” illegal immigration, following his public criticism of a recent joint immigration enforcement operation in the city.
The announcement was made Monday during a press conference at the Tennessee State Capitol by U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN), who stood alongside several state legislators and law enforcement officials. Ogles confirmed that the House Judiciary and Homeland Security committees would probe the mayor’s conduct and examine whether federal funds were misused in what he described as a “criminal enterprise.”
“I will not back down. I will not relent. I will always stand with law enforcement,” Ogles said. “I want my community, and I want my country back.”
The investigation stems from tensions between federal immigration authorities and local officials after a joint operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol earlier this month resulted in the arrest of 196 individuals. Mayor O’Connell, a Democrat, sharply criticized the raid, questioning both the transparency and the necessity of the arrests.
In remarks earlier this month, O’Connell noted that the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) had no role in the operation and had already contributed to years of declining crime in the city. He also accused federal officials of violating due process.
“We don’t even know the names of who they’ve arrested, much less the charges,” O’Connell said. “What we have seen is a violation of due process and the defiance of court orders.”
O’Connell’s comments drew sharp backlash from conservatives, including Ogles, who took to social media shortly after the mayor’s statement, vowing to pursue a congressional investigation.
During Monday’s press conference, Ogles doubled down, saying, “Due to the remarks of Freddie O’Connell and the potential of aiding and abetting illegal immigration, the Homeland Security and Judiciary committees will be conducting an investigation into the mayor of Nashville.”
The probe has also prompted renewed scrutiny of the Belonging Fund, a city-supported initiative designed to help immigrants in crisis with services such as housing, child care, food, and transportation. The fund, established in the wake of the ICE raids, is managed by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in partnership with Metro Nashville.
Although the foundation has emphasized that no government dollars are used—only donations from private individuals and organizations—Metro Councilmember David Benton (District 28) has called for a state or federal audit of the fund. Benton is seeking to determine whether any local funds may have inadvertently supported undocumented immigrants.
“Stop making a mockery of Memorial Day,” Benton said. “Defend Nashville. Defend Tennessee. Defend this country, and stop the invasion.”
The mayor’s office has not issued a formal response to the investigation as of Monday afternoon.
The developments mark a significant escalation in the ongoing clash between federal immigration policy and local governance. As Nashville finds itself at the center of a national immigration debate, the outcome of the investigation could have lasting implications for how cities across the country interact with federal enforcement agencies.
