Image Credit: @RepOgles / X
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Congressman Andy Ogles (TN-5) who led a press conference Monday at the Tennessee State Capitol referred to three illegal aliens who were recently arrested in East Tennessee in a post on X beforehand.
“The illegal invasion plaguing Tennessee isn’t just hitting big cities – these criminals are targeting suburban neighborhoods,” wrote Ogles.
The three men, responsible for crimes in multiple states in the U.S., were apprehended in Chattanooga last week due to a traffic stop.
The three who were traveling together in the same vehicle gave a Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper fake IDs that claimed Peruvian nationality but the men are all originally from Chile.
A search of the vehicle produced clothing consistent with that used in at least one Middle Tennessee burglary as well as tools used in such criminal activity. The three were also found to be in possession of stolen Rolex watches from a Missouri home burglary as well as other jewelry also suspected of being stolen.
Early last week, the City of Brentwood’s Criminal Investigations Division noticed similarities between a recent burglary in a Brentwood subdivision and other burglaries that had taken place in both Brentwood and Nashville. Suspects in these burglaries were identified following a joint investigation between Brentwood and Metro Nashville police departments, and other law enforcement agencies
The Chilean men, Genaro Arturo Arenas Jara, Nicholas Maximiliano Martinez Hidalgo, and Valentino Amaro Bouffanias are wanted for previous home burglaries committed in California in 2023.
Following their arrest, the three were taken to the Hamilton County jail pending federal charges as well as charges in Tennessee and California.
In a subsequent X post, Ogles called out protesters who he said banged on the windows of the State Capitol on Monday, while harassing State Troopers.
Brentwood resident Deborah Newitz spoke at the press conference, detailing the damage that illegal alien gang members wrought on her home when they broke in. Despite $15 thousand in damages just from the men gaining access to the house, as well as what was stolen, Newitz said her family was “lucky” as her 15-year-old daughter was home alone at the time of the burglary and was fortunately not discovered during the crime.
During the conference, Ogles said, “The only way to secure our streets from the violence of illegal alien criminals is to stand with President Trump and support the efforts of ICE. Anyone who stands in the way of ICE is aiding foreign enemies and should be held accountable. It’s time to take back our country, secure Tennessee, and make America safe again.”
No doubt with Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell in mind, Ogles recently asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Krisi Noem during a Homeland Security committee meeting if aiding and abetting illegal aliens to evade federal law enforcement or impeding ICE’s ability to perform it’s duties would be considered a criminal act.
Noem responded affirmatively.
Ogles called for an investigation into O’Connell earlier this month after the Nashville Mayor not only disparaged raids conducted by ICE in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, but also took action to aid illegal immigrants.
O’Connell has created a “Belonging Fund” which funnels taxpayer money to more than one non-governmental organization (NGO) who help shelter and provide resources for those here illegally, and also signed an executive order which creates an early warning system of sorts for future enforcement of illegal immigration.
One NGO, the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, has sneered at the ICE operation that removed almost 200 dangerous criminals off the streets of Davidson, Rutherford, and Robertson counties, accusing ICE agents of racial profiling and “unconstitutional discrimination.”
The operation rounded up convicted sex offenders, murderers, violent gang members, human traffickers, as well as other criminals.
Additional Sources:
https://www.wkrn.com/video/arrests-shed-light-on-tennessee-gang-activity/10751438
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
