TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on May 28, 2025

After a joint immigration enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol in May, Nashville attorneys are reporting a sharp rise in evictions targeting Hispanic immigrant families, according to the Nashville Scene. The paper reports that after a week of traffic stops — during which nearly 200 drivers, most without criminal records, were detained — local lawyers noticed a spike in illegal evictions. Anne Boatner, legal director at the Hispanic Bar Association, says her office has documented an increase in cases. She emphasizes that under Tennessee law, landlords must obtain a court order and use the sheriff’s office for evictions, but fear of exposure to federal immigration authorities is discouraging tenants from asserting their legal rights. Boatner and local officials are now seeking alternative legal remedies, including evaluating possible violations of fair housing laws, while helping displaced families find emergency housing.