Nashville mayor stands by EO30 transparency amid Tenn. Speaker's call to rescind

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell defends Executive Order 30, which mandates transparency about local interactions with ICE, amidst significant pressure from House Speaker Cameron Sexton to rescind it. Sexton claims the order endangers federal agents by exposing them to harassment and interference. O'Connell argues that EO30 fosters accountability and ensures no local, state, or federal misconduct is hidden from public view. The order requires Metro departments to report communications with federal immigration officials within 24 hours, making this data publicly available. Previous versions of the data included the names of ICE agents, which sparked outrage from Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles and Senator Marsha Blackburn.

Senator Blackburn criticized the release of officers' names as shocking and dangerous. O'Connell stated he is willing to discuss any specific concerns regarding the executive order with state and federal officials. The ongoing scrutiny from GOP lawmakers highlights the contentious debate over immigration policy and local government transparency.