PORTLAND, Tenn. — A significant rise in the number of individuals held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been reported across Middle Tennessee, mirroring a national trend. Data from TRACreports.org indicates that as of March 23, 2025, ICE was holding 47,892 individuals—nearly 11,000 more than the 36,931 in custody during the same period the previous year.
This uptick in detentions is also evident in local jails, where authorities in several counties are seeing a sharp increase in the number of individuals transferred into ICE custody.
According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the number of prisoners released to ICE custody has skyrocketed in the past year. In March 2024, only seven inmates were handed over to federal authorities. By March 2025, that figure surged to 56—an increase of 700%. In total, Davidson County released 126 inmates to ICE in 2025, a 335% rise compared to the 29 transferred during the same period last year.
Wilson County officials have also reported a dramatic spike in ICE detainers, though they declined to provide specific figures. Putnam County, previously without any ICE holds, has already processed 13 such detainers in 2025.
While many individuals arrested on various charges in Middle Tennessee are being handed over to ICE, not all cases result in such a transfer. Local law enforcement agencies, like the Spring Hill Police Department, continue to arrest individuals with foreign ties, but only those facing serious charges and deemed a priority by ICE are typically detained.
One such case occurred in Portland, where law enforcement arrested 29-year-old Pu Domingo on March 24 for reckless driving, after he was clocked speeding at 60 mph in a 30 mph zone. Domingo nearly caused a crash when he veered off the road. Upon arrest, officers discovered that Domingo had a Guatemalan passport but was also in possession of six fraudulent identities and fake Social Security cards from North Carolina and Georgia.
Portland Police Chief Jason Arnold expressed concern over the complexity of the case, pointing out that Domingo’s multiple false identities raised questions about his true identity and immigration status. “That’s a pretty significant crime. Of course, it’s not a violent crime, but he’s stealing identities of actual U.S. citizens, using those for whatever purpose, whatever nefarious purpose he’s got going on,” Arnold stated. “It’s something that we can’t have.”
Domingo, who posted a $20,000 bond, is expected to appear in court in May. During his interrogation, he claimed to have used the fake IDs to secure employment. However, authorities remain uncertain about the full extent of his criminal activity, both in the U.S. and potentially in his home country of Guatemala.
Chief Arnold further emphasized the challenges local law enforcement faces when dealing with illegal immigrants who commit crimes. “We don’t know who he is. There’s no telling what other crimes he’s committed in this country or his country of origin,” he said. “It makes our job a whole lot harder.”
As ICE detentions continue to rise, local law enforcement agencies in Middle Tennessee are grappling with the complexities of immigration enforcement and public safety. With more individuals being transferred to ICE custody, authorities are left to manage the delicate balance between upholding the law and addressing the growing concerns over illegal immigration in the region.
