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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A list of Sanctuary Jurisdictions hosted on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) website which included Nashville and Shelby County has been removed for now.
According to a senior DHS official, the list is under constant revision to ensure that it is being updated regularly, and is subject to change at any time.
A Sanctuary Jurisdiction is based on many factors, including self-identification. As part of the evaluation process, noncompliance with Federal immigration law enforcement is taken into account along with restrictions on the sharing of information, and legal protections put into place for illegal immigrants.
Last week, DHS announced the comprehensive list which includes cities, counties, and states that have been found to be endangering citizens of the United States by deliberate obstruction of immigration laws.
The list is a result of Executive Order (EO) 14287 requiring the publishing of a list of states and local jurisdictions, including cities and counties, “that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws, endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril.”
Making the list means receiving formal notification of non-compliance with federal statutes, and DHS “demands that these jurisdictions immediately review and revise their policies to align with Federal immigration laws and renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens.”
On Friday, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell stated during a press conference that he was “puzzled” about the city’s inclusion on the list.
“By definition, Nashville is not a sanctuary city,” O’Connell said.
The Mayor defended the city’s actions saying that Metro had not impeded any immigration enforcement in recent weeks.
However, two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives are investigating an executive order issued by O’Connell requiring city employees to report interactions with federal immigration authorities within one business day of the encounter.
The Judiciary and Homeland Security committees and the Congressional Counter-Terrorism Caucus have requested all documents relating to the order that refer to ICE operations and any documents and communications between Metro employees and others.
According to the letter that U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn) posted to social media, O’Connell must respond by the end of the business day on June 12th. Ogles is the chairman of the Congressional Counter-Terrorism Caucus.
“Instead of defending our state, Mayor Freddie O’Connell is sabotaging it,” stated Ogles. “He’s weaponized his office to dox and surveil federal agents who are trying to stop violent criminals – and worse, he’s embraced those criminals by creating a taxpayer-funded program to aid illegal aliens. The recipients of these funds are untraceable. The purpose is crystal clear: help illegal foreigners evade the law.”
O’Connell’s office has said that publishing the names of immigration officers was a “mistake” and the names have since been removed.
State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) who sent a letter to border czar Tom Homan asking for greater attention on Memphis called the inclusion of Shelby County on the DHS list “completely unacceptable, and I will be doing everything in my power as Shelby County’s state Senator to bring the full weight of state government to determine who in county government is obstructing federal authorities and make sure Shelby County complies with federal authorities.”
Sheriffs around the country were not in favor of the published list with the National Sheriffs’ Association taking issue with it over the weekend.
The association’s president, Sheriff Kieran Donahue called it an “unnecessary erosion of unity and collaboration with law enforcement.“
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
