Report: Restaurants in Downtown Nashville Close Due to Fear of ICE Presence
Restaurants on Lower Broadway have shut down due to fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s presence in Nashville.
Fox 17 reported that at least two restaurants closed last weekend due to the rumored presence of law enforcement.
“It’s just creating this general sense of fear all the time,” said a manager to Fox 17. “There were rumors flying around about ICE being on Lower Broadway. It was credible enough that we had to close the restaurant because back-of-house staff had to leave. Everyone split.”
Another manager told the outlet that his restaurant had closed because half his staff were not attending work.
The outlet said it could not confirm if ICE agents were present on Lower Broadway.
In response to the article, Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) said that if someone doesn’t want their business to shut down, they should not hire illegal aliens.
Tennessee law requires companies with between six and 34 employees to use E-Verify or have people they hire produce paperwork showing their work identity and eligibility to ensure workers are qualified to work legally.
If companies have 35 or more employees, state law mandates them to use E-Verify.
Federal law enforcement agencies have stepped up their efforts recently to address illegal immigration in Tennessee’s largest city.
ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) conducted around 150 traffic stops earlier in May due to law violations. Law enforcement ended up arresting people with outstanding warrants, including people suspected of having gang affiliations. Illegal guns and drugs were also seized.
Last week, Mayor Freddie O’Connell and the Metro City Council condemned the operation.
“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,” O’Connell said.
The mayor issued an executive order telling city departments to report their communication with federal law enforcement to his office.
In total, THP and ICE have arrested over 100 people since starting their working operation.
ICE rumors in Nashville also impacted a professional soccer event last weekend.
La Brigada De Oro, a Nashville SC supporters group, canceled its pregame tailgating event due to these recent arrests.
“In solidarity with the injustices that we are experiencing right at this very moment within our Latino/Hispanic community. That has been so deeply affected,” the group said.
“During difficult times, family stands together– when one of us is affected, we all are. And at this moment it doesn’t feel prudent to celebrate, cheer and party while so many families within our community are being separated and destroyed,” it added.
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