ICE, Highway Patrol Raids Shut Down Nashville Restaurants

A series of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Nashville, Tennessee, conducted in coordination with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, led to the closure of several popular restaurants and bars, including Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock N’ Roll Steakhouse. These closures occurred as employees without legal status stayed home or were sent away to avoid potential detention, resulting in severe staffing shortages during busy weekend nights. ICE arrested 196 people, less than half of whom had prior criminal records, emphasizing the removal of individuals considered threats to public safety. The raids were part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration and have drawn criticism from local officials and immigrant advocates for harming Nashville’s tourism industry and instilling fear in the community. The situation highlighted the reliance of the city’s service industry on undocumented workers and the impact of federal immigration policies on pro-Trump business owners. Nashville’s leadership expressed frustration over their limited ability to intervene in federal enforcement actions.