Press Release: AMAC Calls on City Leaders to Condemn ICE Operation in South Nashville that Targeted Immigrant Communities

NASHVILLE, TN – The American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC) strongly condemns the immigration enforcement operation that took place yesterday in South Nashville, where nearly 150 vehicles were stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), resulting in the detention of dozens of immigrant community members.

This operation, which officials claim was conducted for traffic enforcement, singled out immigrant communities on a mass scale, causing fear to spread rapidly in a neighborhood many of us call home. This kind of state-sanctioned targeting is unacceptable in the city.

“South Nashville is home to many in our community. It’s where we raise our children, work, pray, and gather”, said Sabina Moyhuddin, AMAC Executive Director. “Collaborating with ICE and attacking our neighborhoods under the guise of traffic stops does not promote safety. It sows fear, distrust, and lasting trauma between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.”

Among those detained were a mother with young children, a local Uber driver, and an asylum seeker with a pending court date. These are not criminals; they are our neighbors; they are community members working hard, paying taxes, and contributing every day to the life of this city. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, just like every other Nashville resident.

AMAC calls on city and state leaders to immediately and publicly condemn this operation. AMAC demands a clear commitment to end any collaboration between city agencies and ICE, and to take concrete steps to protect our immigrant communities from further harm.

"This is a defining moment that demands moral clarity from our leaders. Our city must choose compassion, fairness, and justice over fear and division." - Sabina Moyhuddin

AMAC continues to provide resources and advocacy tools through our Community Defense Hub. We urge all residents to learn their rights and get involved.

Learn more and take action at: www.amactn.org/cdh