Why immigration crackdown isn’t as visible in Memphis as it is in Minnesota
Members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, led by the U.S. Marshals, arrest a fugitive with a warrant in South Memphis on Nov. 26, 2025. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Thousands of federal agents are currently stationed in both Memphis and Minneapolis, for different but similar purposes: Trump administration attempts to — aggressively and publicly — crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.
Despite an influx of federal law enforcement having flooded the Southern, majority-Black city since September, Memphis has received comparatively less attention nationally than its mostly white midwestern counterpart. All eyes were on Minneapolis last month amid the shooting deaths of two protestors who both died during interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents there.
Organizers on the ground in Memphis maintain similar things are occurring locally: Residents are being racially profiled, families are being separated by way of immigration-related arrests and law enforcement has been physical with protestors voicing dissent about the Memphis Safe Task Force, which brought the surge to their front door Sept. 29.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Subscriber Only Immigration MinneapolisThank you for being a subscriber to The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization with a hybrid business model, we rely on a mix of revenue from subscriptions (50%), advertising, events and miscellaneous earned income (25%) and fundraising (25%).
Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian today.
👉 Your subscription pays for you to read all our journalism.
👉 Your donation powers the work we do to reach everyone else with the news.
We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now.
Aarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers public safety for The Daily Memphian, focusing on crime and the local court system. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.