Latinos in Memphis fear immigration crackdown as Trump crime task force deploys

Latinos in Memphis say they fear a possible immigration crackdown as President Donald Trump’s crime task force deploys in the city, bringing the National Guard and a broad array of federal agencies to help enforce federal immigration law through the Memphis Safe Task Force. The effort, announced as a crackdown on violent crime, includes Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement among the agencies involved, and would involve a surge of personnel to Memphis as part of a broader national push.

Officials say the mission is to reduce violent crime and improve public safety by adding manpower at a time of persistent gun violence and carjackings in the city. Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, is among the participating agencies. Gov. Bill Lee has publicly said he would not expect more than 150 National Guard members to Memphis and has not signed an executive order to deploy troops. Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, has said he did not ask for the deployment and questions its effectiveness in reducing crime. In a weekly newsletter released Friday, Young said Washington officials described the National Guard presence as “eyes and ears on the streets, more like a large-scale neighborhood watch than frontline police officers” who would focus on issues such as homelessness and beautification that could indirectly aid Memphis.

Latino residents and advocates worry the operation could become a vehicle for targeting people at homes, schools and workplaces, including those who are citizens or have legal status, simply because of appearance or family ties to immigrant communities. Sandra Pita, a mother of six who is a U.S. citizen of Mexican descent, voiced a concern shared by many in Memphis’ Latino community. “My concern as a Latina is they will be targeting people with brown skin color, Black skin color, even my children who are citizens, and the children of other mothers who are born here in Memphis,” she said. Such fears persist even as some residents acknowledge crime remains a pressing issue in the city.

The debate over the deployment has highlighted divergent political stances. Republican lawmakers and supporters say the operation is a necessary infusion of resources to tackle violent crime, while Democratic leaders and community groups caution against overreach and the potential for civil rights violations. The governor’s stance stands in sharp contrast to Democratic leaders in states like California and Illinois, who argue that similar deployments undermine local authority and inflame tensions. The president has also floated the possibility of extending such deployments to other cities, including New Orleans, which is led by Democrats in a state that leans Republican.

Memphis’ demographic profile partly shapes the concern. Roughly 10% of the city’s population is Hispanic, according to Census data, a share that has grown in recent years as immigrant communities have settled in the region. Since Trump took office in January, community groups have actively educated Memphis’ Latinos about their rights and what to do if approached by agents questioning immigration status. In many communities, organizations have distributed small red cards with instructions in English and Spanish, advising people to avoid opening doors to agents who do not have a warrant and not to sign anything without a lawyer present. Other groups have used social media to alert residents to real-time enforcement activity.

Mauricio Calvo, CEO of Latino Memphis, said he recognizes crime is a serious concern in Memphis but does not support the National Guard deployment. He noted that many Latinos he has spoken with approve of the deployment but worries that people do not understand the potential consequences—particularly the risk of racial profiling and the possible detention of immigrants or people who look like immigrants. Calvo pointed to a former prison in Mason, a rural community east of Memphis, that has been turned into an ICE detention facility with hundreds of beds as a sobering example of how enforcement could broaden quickly. “I’m afraid this could rapidly pivot into large numbers of detentions for immigrants or people who look or sound like immigrants,” he said.

Casey Bryant, a lawyer who works with Latino immigrants, cautioned that some National Guard members and other law-enforcement personnel involved in the operation may be unfamiliar with immigration law. He said the presence could create “chaos and confusion” and jeopardize due process rights in both immigration and criminal contexts. He urged immigrants to be prepared for possible encounters, to keep family plans in place in case someone is detained, and to seek legal counsel if questioned by authorities. “Everybody is trying to prepare for how to live with this kind of presence,” Bryant said.

The question of how the operation will unfold remains unresolved. Officials have said National Guard arrivals could occur within a week, but a firm timetable has not been announced. The broader political debate surrounding the deployment is unlikely to quiet soon, as opponents frame it as a federal occupation of a city facing poverty and other drivers of crime, while supporters argue the need for resource augmentation to curb violent acts. An Associated Press analysis of similar federal operations conducted elsewhere this year found that more than 40% of arrests during a monthlong period were related to immigration, underscoring the potential scope of enforcement under a national framework.

As Memphis waits for specifics, community groups and legal advisors say the focus should be on protecting civil rights and ensuring due process while crime remains a critical local issue. The influx of federal and state resources to the city has amplified a broader national conversation about immigration enforcement, local governance, and the rights of residents who may be caught in the crosswinds of policy changes enacted from Washington. The city’s leaders, law-enforcement officials and residents are navigating a tense period in which public safety and immigrant protections are being weighed in a political battle that extends far beyond Memphis city limits.