### Tennessee's Nashville, Shelby County Named in Federal Immigration Enforcement List

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Trump administration has flagged two Tennessee communities on a list comprising about 500 localities across the United States, alleging their non-compliance with federal immigration directives. Nashville and Shelby County were identified as not fully aligning with the administration's immigration-related goals.

The list has drawn criticisms from various quarters, pointing out numerous errors such as typos and noting that many included communities have small immigrant populations. Some locales on the list also reportedly demonstrate a robust record of cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) compiled the list based on several criteria, including whether local jurisdictions self-identified as sanctuary cities, their historical compliance with federal immigration enforcement, and any existing restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration officials. DHS has stated that this list will be updated regularly.

Under President Donald Trump's executive order, communities marked on the list will receive official notices about their non-compliance with federal immigration law and potential violations of federal criminal laws. These communities also risk facing financial repercussions, such as the suspension or termination of federal grants and contracts.

In a related development, Tennessee lawmakers revised state immigration statutes in January to better align with the Trump administration's objectives. The revisions make it a Class E felony for local officials to enact "sanctuary city" policies, which generally involve local governments refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. The new law also stipulates that officials who vote to adopt such policies could lose their positions.

Recently, a federal investigation was initiated concerning Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell following the detention of hundreds of individuals by federal immigration authorities in a Nashville community. The operation was a collaborative effort between the Tennessee Highway Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These measures signal an intensifying crackdown on sanctuary cities and non-compliant jurisdictions, indicating the federal government’s resolve to enforce stricter immigration policies nationwide.