Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell must be held accountable as he appears to be violating federal law by aiding and abetting illegal aliens by pushing efforts to interfere with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Davidson County.
Earlier this month, an operation conducted by ICE in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in Nashville resulted in the arrests of 196 criminal illegal aliens.
Despite the operation seeing the removal of aliens with violent criminal histories, O’Connell maintained that the enforcement operation was “not focused” on making Nashville “safer,” and, in response, launched a “Belonging Fund” to “support immigrants in Nashville during moments of crisis.”
O’Connell also went as far to sign an executive order establishing protocols for various Metro Nashville departments to provide his office with any information deemed “immigration communications” that might reflect forthcoming federal immigration enforcement in the city – essentially creating an early warning system for immigrants to evade federal immigration enforcement.
Ogles, whose district includes parts of Davidson County, has since called on the U.S. House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees to investigate O’Connell and other Nashville city officials for their “repeated obstruction of ICE operations.”
On Tuesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Ogles said he is actively working with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) to launch an investigation into O’Connell and potentially other mayors across the nation accused of impeding federal immigration enforcement.
“If you’re impeding federal law enforcement it’s a crime,” Ogles said.
“We would have an investigation, we would turn over our findings to the Justice Department. Then, of course, they would review it from there. That being said, what this does is shows mayors…that we are going to uphold law enforcement, we’re going to stand by law enforcement, and we’re going to uphold federal immigration law,” he added.
With regard to Nashville, Ogles strongly criticized O’Connell for his efforts to protect illegal aliens, especially his signing of an executive order to create a warning system, which the congressman notes has the potential to put law enforcement in harm’s way.
“If the city of Nashville through whatever mechanism is warning individuals that ICE is on the way, you’re putting law enforcement in harm’s way. I have a problem with that. Not only may [O’Connell] be violating federal law, but he might literally be putting their lives at stake by sounding the alarm, if you will,” Ogles explained.
You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to understand that. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand how that could create a liability and a risk for those officers. Shut your mouth, let law enforcement do their job. If they have an illegal, let due process take its course,” the congressman added.
Ogles further pointed out how the city’s funneling of federal dollars to nonprofits that support illegal aliens could also be criminal.
“Keep in mind, there’s federal dollars that go to the city of Nashville and again, if they’re funneling that money to a nonprofit that’s aiding illegals and evading federal law enforcement, that would be a crime. So there’s a lot to unpack here, and we’re being proactive and holding them accountable,” Ogles said.
Ogles stressed that he is not targeting O’Connell specifically through his calling for an investigation, but rather sending a message to mayors nationwide to avoid interfering with federal law enforcement.
“We’re not going to target anyone, but at the end of the day, we’re sending a notice to mayors across this country: Get out of the way. Let the federal law enforcement do their job,” he said.
Tune in now to the The Michael Patrick Leahy Show – your AMERICA FIRST news talk!
– Watch LIVE here on X
– Listen on Spotify
– Listen on WENO AM760 in Nashville
– Read more at @TheTNStarhttps://t.co/mnM3fWUTC4— MichaelPatrick Leahy (@michaelpleahy) May 20, 2025
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
He can go they way of, Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, and the mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka,, both arrested for interfering with Federal Officers.
He might think he would eventually get out of it, but he will spend thousands of dollars to do so.
what is it with these liberal mayors who think they are supreme to the federal government. if he is in violation make him accountable.
Please investigate him, Karl Dean and his best friend Renata Soto along with tirrc.