Protesters were recorded pounding on the windows of the Tennessee State Capitol by U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) on Monday as he held a “Stop the Invasion” press conference inside, where he was joined by various Tennessee lawmakers who expressed support for the efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove illegal immigrants from the Volunteer State.
Ogles held the press conference after his requests for congressional probes into Mayor Freddie O’Connell over the city’s response to the recent ICE immigration enforcement operation in Nashville, which saw nearly 200 arrests. Ninety-five of these individuals had previous and pending criminal charges.
O’Connell’s response included an executive order requiring Metro employees to inform him and the Office of New Americans of any contact with federal immigration officials, and the announcement of a new “Belonging Fund” to raise money for immigrants.
“Under the last administration, and previous administrations as well, we’ve seen a flood of illegals coming into this country,” said Ogles, adding that he recently toured the El Salvadoran prison where various members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Tren de Aragua (TdA) have been deported under President Donald Trump.
Ogles added, “One of the individuals who I spoke with had been in the United States, joined a gang when he was 13 years old, [and] had killed 50 people. He showed us his tattoos, marking all of the individuals that he had killed.”
The congressman then said O’Connell and other Nashville Democrats were siding with criminals like those he encountered in El Salvador.
“When a mayor stands up, and is defending those types of individuals over our hardworking law enforcement, Homeland Security, ICE, THP, and the sheriff’s department in the city, he is choosing criminals over Tennesseans,” he said.
Ogles continued, “When you have this type of reckless rhetoric from a city mayor, from anywhere in the country, but especially in the Nashville, you’re putting [law enforcement] lives in harm’s way.”
As Ogles spoke, protesters gathered outside the building. When Ogles introduced State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), protesters began pounding on windows.
“People are slamming the windows of the TN Capitol in protest of ICE,” wrote Ogles in a post to X. “We will take our country back.”
People are slamming the windows of the TN Capitol in protest of ICE.
We will take our country back. pic.twitter.com/uWdpCij5uD
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) May 26, 2025
Journalists’ posts to social media indicate that the crowd began gathering shortly before the press conference and chanted, at one point, that Ogles should be deported.
“Protesters gathered outside the State Capitol to oppose ICE operations, as Rep. Andy Ogles prepares to hold a press conference supporting law enforcement and reaffirming his commitment to protecting citizens from rising threats posed by illegal immigration,” wrote Fox 17 Nashville reporter Hope Salman in a post to X.
WKRN journalist Audrey Mayer added that the crowd chanted “Deport Andy Ogles.”
Crowd outside the Tennessee Capitol chanting “Deport Andy Ogles” ahead of the Congressman’s “Stop the Invasion” press conference where he’s expected to be joined by ICE officials. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/zLA34EfQMZ
— Audrey Mayer (@audsmayer) May 26, 2025
One individual, who anticipated attending Ogles’ event, told The Tennessee Star that a man leading protesters with a bullhorn identified apparent detractors by name, then lead chants accusing detractors of being Nazis.
Additional elected officials who attended Ogles’ press conference included State Representatives Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) and Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), as well as Metro Councilman David Benton, who called for state and federal investigations to determine whether Metro is violating federal law through the “Belonging Fund,” which received seed funding from nonprofits which received millions in federal money from Metro Nashville.
“It’s cruel for city officials to encourage illegal aliens to remain in the United States as though they can shield them, in some false pretense, against ICE enforcement,” said Benton. “We may not aid, we may not abet, shield, or even encourage illegal aliens to remain in the United States.”
Referencing the protesters outside, Benton added, “I hear people, right now, [saying] give us Barabbas, give us the criminal. Forget about the innocent, the taxpayers, the law abiding citizens. Give us Barabbas.”
Ogles sent letters to U.S. Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) and Mark Green (R-TN-06) last week, urging the House Homeland Security and Judiciary committees to open probes into O’Connell.
He explained last week, during an appearance on The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, that such probes could lead to referrals to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who would determine whether to pursue criminal charges.
“We would have an investigation, we would turn over our findings to the Justice Department. Then, of course, they would review it from there,” Ogles told Michael Patrick Leahy, the editor-in-chief of The Star.
Ogles told Leahy, “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.”
Watch Ogles’ live stream of the press conference:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Protesters” by Audrey Mayer.
This isn’t too much different from the tax “insurrection” of 2001. Except there were broken windows at the Capitol in 2001…..
BTW, the current immigration law which Trump is now enforcing was passed and signed into law by Bill Clinton in 1996. Bill Clinton reportedly deported over 12 million ILLEGAL aliens. Deportation is “due process” for illegal aliens.
If when these protesters for illegal immigrants return home and find someone illegally in their dwelling, they will want them OUT! Let’s ALL just treat our country like our homes.
only in Nashville. you can travel the rest of Tennessee and find a major majority who thinks these people are nuts.
The Mayor is not the problem. The problem is the idiots in Nashville that elected him.
Would love to see Rep. Ogles run for Governor of TN in 2028.
If O’Connell really wants to help the illegal invaders, then he should go and campaign in their countries for better living conditions so they’ll stop coming here illegally. Maybe we could all chip in and purchase a one-way ticket for him to use in making the trip there.
Looks like an INSURRECTION.
IF YOU ARE IN OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY YOU ARE NOT A NEW AMERICAN, YOU ARE THIRD WORLD FREELOADER.
The mayor of Nashville needs to be thrown out, as do all members of the Metro Council, who refuse to follow the law of our land.
And another observation, look at those old white fools up there supporting this crap, the grave awaits them!
Bastard illegals, throw everyone of them out of my country. These parasites have had their fill and now we need to crush these cock roaches once and for all.
Who is paying the protesters? why didn’t they get arrested for disorderly conduct ? Officials who support criminal illegals should be thrown out of office. This should not even be an issue