Sen. Jeff Yarbro: Lee administration enabled lawless ICE deportation sweep in Latino neighborhood

NASHVILLE — Sen. Jeff Yarbro denounced a federal mass deportation sweep — enabled by the Tennessee Highway Patrol — that took place in his Senate District over the weekend.

In a statement, Sen. Yarbro said he was “disturbed” by the dragnet deportation operation and the explanation for the state’s involvement that was offered by the THP. “Due process and the rule of law mean something, and it’s offensive to see them sacrificed by those charged with enforcing the law,” Sen. Yarbro said.

Read Sen. Jeff Yarbro’s full statement below:

I’m disturbed by what appears to be lawlessness by the State of Tennessee in aid of ICE, an agency that is flouting court orders and constitutional due process all over the country.

The Highway Patrol put out a misleading public statement that its operation this weekend was spurred by traffic accidents or gang activity. Any such legitimate operation would be done in conjunction with local law enforcement, and it’s insulting for the State to deny the obvious by suggesting this operation was about anything other than immigration.

And here’s the problem. The Tennessee Highway Patrol isn’t an immigration enforcement authority; isn’t part of any 287(g) agreement with the federal government, and this operation flies in the face of the Lee Administration’s claim just two weeks ago that any state immigration enforcement assistance would focus on “individuals with final deportation orders or serious criminal convictions.”

The operation this weekend appears to have been just a sloppy attempt to round people up. Under the guise of normal traffic enforcement, the Highway Patrol set up what can only be described as a dragnet targeting Nashville’s largest Latino neighborhood.

In this one shift, the THP states it made 150 stops for violations in effectively one neighborhood. That’s about five times more stops than the Highway Patrol makes in all of Davidson County on an average day. They were basically pulling someone new over every two minutes. That’s not a “public safety operation.”

This operation wasn’t targeting criminals, but people who were driving home — home from their jobs, home to their families, home to their community. And I’m saddened for those who had their lives disrupted by this problematic operation. This is a strong, civically active community that will come together and support one another and it’s the kind of community state law enforcement should support.

I hardly think the Tennessee Highway Patrol should be taking marching orders from ICE, which is literally defying, skirting, and avoiding court orders all over the country.

I’ve been at the Capitol all morning trying to find anyone in the Highway Patrol, Department of Safety, or Lee Administration to explain this operation or its basis in the law. And there’s nothing but radio silence. That’s not what happens when the State is proud of its work in a lawful public safety operation.

Due process and the rule of law mean something, and it’s offensive to see them sacrificed by those charged with enforcing the law.