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Did ICE Violate Constitution in South Nashville, Tennessee Raid?

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Tennessee advocates have come forward to argue that immigrants’ rights were violated in a police-ICE raid last week. ICE says the raid was a police collaboration to root out criminal gang activity in a Nashville apartment complex, but local advocates say that innocent residents were treated like criminals.  The allegations disturbing, to say the least:

Members of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and the American Civil Liberties Union accused Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of violating people’s civil rights on Oct. 20 during a raid at the Clairmont apartment complex.

Remziya Suleyman, policy coordinator for the immigration coalition, said the raid may have been retribution for complaints from residents about deplorable living conditions that included insects, vermin, mold, leaks and broken doors and windows.

“ICE came in — from the allegations that we heard — without consent, breaking into people’s homes, breaking through windows and doors, dragging people out by gunpoint and in front of children,” said Tricia Herzfeld, an attorney with the ACLU.

“This is not fair. We’re a country of laws. Everyone has to follow them, including law enforcement.”