ICE Smoky Mountains Operation Leads to 117 Arrests

An immigration enforcement operation has resulted in the arrests of 117 illegal immigrants in the Smoky Mountains region in eastern Tennessee.

“Among those arrested were criminal illegal aliens with convictions for theft, domestic assault, driving while intoxicated, and attempted aggravated sexual battery,” Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a June 16 statement. “Some of those arrested may face additional criminal charges for illegal reentry into the United States.”

The illegal immigrants who have final orders of removal or who re-entered the country after a prior removal may be immediately deported. The rest will remain in ICE custody pending proceedings at the immigration court.

ICE said all immigrants who violate immigration laws are subject to arrest and detention, irrespective of their criminal histories.

The operation, conducted in partnership with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, was carried out the last week of May. During the operation, authorities made criminal and administrative arrests in Sevier County and surrounding regions.

Among those arrested were an 18-year-old Honduran national who was previously taken into custody on suspicion of raping a child, a 54-year-old from Honduras suspected of felony possession of cocaine, and a 29-year-old female, also a Honduran national, with a history of aggravated assault and who had previously been removed from the United States.

“This enforcement operation demonstrates our commitment to protecting the safety of the community and its visitors,” said Brian Acuna, ICE’s acting field office director in New Orleans.

“By focusing our enforcement efforts on individuals who pose the greatest risk, and with the support of our 287(g) partners, we help ensure Tennessee communities remain safe for residents and tourists.”

Section 287(g) refers to cooperation agreements signed by local law enforcement with ICE. Under the agreements, ICE can delegate certain immigration officer functions to state and local law officers under the agency’s oversight, which allows them to detain suspected illegal immigrants.

On May 19, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed into law HB 2219, which requires sheriffs of all counties in the state to enter into Section 287(g) agreements.

According to the legislation, sheriffs can choose from four 287(g) cooperation programs—the jail enforcement model, warrant service officer model, task force model, or tribal task force model.

The jail enforcement model aims to identify and process removable illegal immigrants arrested by state or local law enforcement, while the task force model enables police to enforce limited immigration authority during their routine duties, subject to ICE oversight.

The warrant service officer model allows ICE to train and authorize local and state officers to serve and execute administrative warrants on illegal immigrants housed in their respective agencies’ prisons. A tribal task force model is aimed at implementing immigration laws in Indian Country.

Immigrant Removal Law

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against Tennessee officials on June 4, challenging a new state law targeting illegal immigrants. The group called the measure “unlawful and inhumane.”

HB 1704, signed into law by Gov. Lee in April, criminalizes the act of illegals staying in the state despite removal orders.

“Effective July 1, 2026, this bill makes it an offense for a person who has a valid order of removal to intentionally fail or refuse to depart from this state within 90 days of the date of the final order of removal,” the bill states.

“Such offense is a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by imprisonment of no more than 11 months, 29 days; a fine not to exceed $2,500; or both.”

In a statement, the ACLU termed the bill an “extreme anti-immigrant law” that “unconstitutionally usurps” federal immigration enforcement power.

Courts nationwide have consistently reaffirmed that powers related to immigration enforcement exclusively belong to the federal government alone and not the state, the ACLU said.

“The state’s overreach here is unlawful and inhumane, creating fear and upending lives for families, neighbors, and communities across Tennessee,” said Hannah Steinberg, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.