Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell this week defended his office’s decision to publish the names of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and said his concern lies more with masked agents “whisking people away,” the Daily Mail reported.
Earlier in the month, the names of federal agents were revealed in a public immigration report. They were taken down after a backlash.
“I wouldn’t say it was an endangerment process. I would say they may have some concerns,” O’Connell said.
“I’m far more concerned about the overall dynamic we have about unmarked, unidentifiable, masked people whisking people into vehicles. I think that’s a bigger concern.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is investigating whether the mayor interfered with federal immigration efforts.
In May, O’Connell condemned the efforts of ICE agents in Nashville when they arrested more than 200 illegal immigrants during traffic stops in coordination with the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
“This type of federal enforcement action is not focused on making us safer and leaves people in our community fearing any interaction with law enforcement when there is a crime occurring. We will be seeking the names of those detained,” the mayor’s office said in response to the arrests.
Last month, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons defended the use of masks worn by his agents while conducting raids.
“People are out there taking photos of the names, their faces, and posting them online with death threats to their family and themselves,” Lyons said.
“So I’m sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I’m not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line, their family on the line because people don’t like what immigration enforcement is.”
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