Dozens of families across Nashville say they are searching for missing relatives after a series of coordinated immigration enforcement actions unfolded early Saturday into Sunday in parts of South Nashville, including Nolensville Pike and Harding Place. Advocacy groups say more than 100 people were stopped by state police troopers and federal immigration authorities. Witnesses say many were taken into custody without explanation.
"They just stopped them, asked them for paperwork, and if they didn’t have anything, they just took them," said Gisselle Huerta with the advocacy group Children of Immigrants. "They asked how they crossed and how they got here." Huerta spent Sunday outside the Department of Homeland Security building in Nashville, where buses carrying detainees were seen leaving.
"They kept asking if we saw the people getting on the buses—if we got their faces—so they could recognize them. They just want to know if that’s their loved one." Many of those detained reportedly lacked valid identification.
Advocacy organizations say families were left in the dark, unsure where their relatives were being taken. “Citizen, your family has the right to know where you are going, who is detaining you, and for what reason,” said one advocate who asked not to be named for safety reasons. In a statement, the Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed it assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations in a “public safety operation” in areas known for high traffic crash rates and suspected gang activity.
THP said immigration enforcement decisions were handled solely by federal agents. Governor Bill Lee echoed federal priorities in a statement, writing: “President Trump made it clear that states would play a major role in enforcing immigration laws and removing the most violent offenders, and Americans overwhelmingly elected him to do so.” Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell addressed community concerns but urged caution: “I would definitely encourage families to be very responsible about how they share information,” O’Connell said. “As much as possible, be engaged with legal representation because there are considerable risks with sharing personal details with third parties.” The mayor said his office is working to learn more about the operation and how families can reach loved ones.
In response to the crisis, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is partnering to launch the Belonging Fund, aimed at providing support and legal aid to impacted immigrant families. Get reports like this and all the news of the day in Middle Tennessee delivered to your inbox each morning with the
