Red State Mayor is Now Under Federal Investigation for Aiding Illegal Aliens

"The House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees are seeking records related to a number of city policies and communications with outside groups..."

Sanctuary city mayors are increasingly coming under federal investigation.

Two congressional committees have launched a federal investigation into Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell over allegations that his administration interfered with immigration enforcement and may have misused city resources to support undocumented immigrants.

The announcement came Monday from U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), who said the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees are seeking records related to a number of city policies and communications with outside groups.

At issue is whether the mayor’s office obstructed a recent ICE operation that resulted in 196 arrests and whether federal funds or city-backed initiatives were used in ways that violate immigration law.

“This is about aiding and abetting illegal immigration,” Ogles said during a Memorial Day press conference at the state capitol. “We’re investigating the mayor’s conduct and whether federal dollars have been used in a criminal enterprise.”

Rep. Ogles wrote on X:

With the support of the House Judiciary Committee, I will be formally requesting all documents and communications from the Mayor’s office related to:

– The amendment of Executive Order 30—an outrageous directive requiring Nashville employees and first responders to report all communication with federal immigration authorities directly to the Mayor.

– Any internal discussions or documents concerning ICE enforcement actions in Nashville or Davidson County.

– All correspondence involving Metro employees and affiliated NGOs regarding the arrest or detention of criminal illegal aliens within the city or county.

If you’re helping violent gangs destroy Tennessee by obstructing ICE—you belong behind bars.

Stay tuned.

The federal investigation zeroes in on multiple areas:

• The enforcement fallout: Earlier this month, ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol conducted a large-scale operation in Nashville. Afterward, O’Connell publicly criticized the arrests, saying ICE had provided “no proof” that those detained had criminal histories and accusing federal agents of violating due process.

• City policy under scrutiny: Ogles pointed specifically to the city’s amended Executive Order 30, which requires Nashville employees and first responders to report all contact with ICE directly to the mayor’s office. Critics argue the order creates a bottleneck that could obstruct lawful immigration enforcement.

• The Belonging Fund: The city-backed immigrant support fund is also facing questions. Metro Councilman David Benton has called for a state or federal audit to determine whether any public resources were indirectly supporting individuals in the country illegally. While the fund claims to rely solely on private donations, its official partnership with Metro Nashville has raised red flags.

Mayor O’Connell has denied any wrongdoing. He maintains that Metro Nashville Police did not participate in the ICE raid and that the fund in question does not support legal services or interfere with enforcement efforts. “What we have seen is a violation of due process and the defiance of court orders,” O’Connell said earlier this month. His office has not responded directly to the new investigation.

Ogles says he will request all relevant documents, including communications between Metro officials and immigration-related NGOs, internal memos concerning ICE activity, and any records of discussions related to arrests or detentions.

The case reflects a broader national pattern. In recent months, multiple public officials—including mayors, judges, and even governors—have come under federal scrutiny for allegedly interfering with immigration enforcement. In New York, the DOJ is now investigating former Governor Andrew Cuomo for unrelated false statements to Congress, but it’s part of a growing list of elected officials now facing legal consequences for decisions made in office.

In Nashville, the question is simple: did the mayor’s administration cross the line from policy into obstruction? The federal investigation will determine whether this was political posturing—or something more serious.