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One local restaurant says their business has been cut in half this week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Since Sunday, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have stopped 468 people on the road, leading to 94 people being detained for their immigration status.

Small businesses in South Nashville, where most of the activity has occurred, say the result has been a major drop in sales as their usual customers fear for their safety when they leave the house.

“All of our clients, they are scared,” manager of a family-owned South Nashville restaurant Scarlet Gomez told WSMV. “We have had a lot of people come out and say that they have just been home, locked in their rooms because even a knock on the door frightens them.”

Gomez’s parents have owned the restaurant for eight years now. She says she basically grew up there.

“Mostly all my childhood was spent here,” Gomez said. “I have a lot of memories. My parents would bring me, and I would talk to the clients and be like, walking around.”

She says she always remembered the restaurant as being joyful and a place for her neighbors to come and enjoy the biggest pupusas in town.

“Here, it’s like two pupusas in one,” she said. “I feel like that’s why we have a lot of clients as well. You order the pupusas, they come back and you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, I have some for later too.’”

But she says ever since ICE started stopping people and taking them away, the feeling of joy has been replaced by fear.

“We have a client that comes in every single day,” she said. “Ever since this happened, he has not showed up at all. He was a client that would come, we would talk to him. He would stay here three hours. Now he just comes, picks up his food, if he does come around, he picks up the food and leaves. It is sad.”

It’s an impact felt by many businesses in South Nashville, especially on Nolensville Pike where much of the ICE operations have happened.

“They see one Hispanic driving and they’re instantly getting pulled over,” Gomez said. “I had a family friend get pulled over for absolutely no reason, just for being Hispanic. And the first question they asked was, ‘Are you born here?’”

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President and CEO of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Yuri Cunza says ICE activity has impacted many local businesses he knows.

“It can impact our local businesses if individuals choose not to go out at night, for instance, just to avoid any potential trouble,” he said. “If there are operatives or checkpoints that interfere with the normal flow of traffic, also it may deter individuals that just wanted to spend some time dining or shopping, and you don’t want to be trapped for whatever reason in the middle of something.”

He says now more than ever, local small businesses need your support.

“You can support a business that way by ordering delivery or any other way, maybe purchasing gift cards, making plans to come with friends and family, perhaps at different times of the day that you feel is safer,” Cunza said.

He says the rhetoric around the Latino immigrant population has made things harder for businesses and everyday people alike.

“It is hard perhaps to grasp and imagine what a Hispanic person feels when we have to go out and about and we need to go visit other people or just do grocery shopping. We feel a little bit put on the spotlight for the wrong reasons.”

Cunza says the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is available to help those who may be nervous or confused about their immigration status.

“If someone out there does not have their proper immigration status or is unaware of their immigration status or may have not been aware that that expired, well, I think the best thing they can do is reach out and contact either a lawyer or can also reach out to the Hispanic Chamber for referrals to professionals that can serve them in this particular need,” Cunza said.

But as the South Nashville community is doing its best to support its immigrant neighbors, businesses like Gomez’s family restaurant are still worried about the future and who could be the next to disappear.

“We’re mostly scared because we’re scared to be separated,” Gomez said. “We have lots of people say, ‘Oh, somebody got taken and their kids were left.’ They’re planning into the future of not being here.”

Copyright 2025 WSMV. All rights reserved.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee told Fox News that he believes President Donald Trump's approach to global trade will benefit the U.S., while also acknowledging the uncertainty it's causing, during a live taping of "Fox & Friends" at Puckett's Restaurant in Downtown Nashville.

Lee made the comments on the morning of May 8, ahead of Trump's anticipated trade deal announcement in the United Kingdom.

"He is making decisions that in the short-term sometimes can be challenging for people, but in the long term, we know they have to be done," Lee said. "Something has to be done to right the imbalances and get our economy headed back in the right direction. It's been four years of tough economy, and we've got to get it moving."

Trump imposed a 10% "baseline" tariff on all imports, plus 145% tariffs on China and 25% on Canada and Mexico for goods not in compliance with the 2018 United States-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. But negotiations are ongoing.

"I ran a business for 25 years before I became governor, and there was a time in our business when things were out of kilter. You have to make short-term decisions that sometimes are really hard to save a company," Lee said of his tenure at his family's construction business Lee Company. "Business people know that. They know that things have been out of kilter with this country for some time. President Trump understands that."

Why was Fox News at Puckett's Nashville?

Lee joined a crowd of about 100 people gathered at dawn inside of Puckett's Restaurant in Downtown Nashville for the live show. Fox News' morning show "Fox & Friends" set up an outpost for its Thursday taping.

Puckett's was founded outside Nashville in the 1950s and has grown to a beloved chain serving Southern homestyle meals in Tennessee and Alabama.

As producers encouraged high energy and loud clapping, a crowd dotted with Make America Great Again hats, American flag pins and stickers supporting Sen. Marsha Blackburn followed suit.

The focus of Fox host Charlie Hurt's interviews with Lee and the head of the U.S. Small Business Administration Kelly Loeffler was National Small Business Week.

Addressing the restaurant, Hurt asked questions like "Who's happy with the first 100 days of the Trump presidency?" and "How many people like what Donald Trump is doing with tariffs?"

The audience answered with roaring cheers.

Hurt's segment also featured Tennessee business owners like apparel manufacturer Authentically American CEO Dean Wegner and drinkware brand Symglass cofounder Quinn O'Sullivan.

Fox News Executive Vice President of Morning Programming Megan Albano said Nashville was chosen due to its vibrant small business community.

“Small businesses are the backbone of America, we were excited to have the opportunity to speak with owners and hear their stories," Albano said.

Lee touts Tennessee school voucher program on Fox News

Lee also reminded Fox viewers that businesses like software giant Oracle and California-based In-N-Out Burger are vigorously expanding their Tennessee presences, and Tennessee's school voucher program launches next week.

After overcoming bipartisan opposition in the state legislature, Lee signed the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Act into law earlier this year. It established a $447 million statewide program to offer state-funded scholarships for private schools to kids regardless of their family income levels or ZIP codes.

About 20,000 Education Freedom Scholarships will be distributed when the applications open on May 15.

"Parents across the state will, for the first time, universally have an option to decide where their child best learns," Lee said. "And the government doesn't make that decision."

SBA administrator on the economy: 'We're going to have a boom'

Nashville is one of several stops on SBA Administrator Loeffler's nationwide tour this week to celebrate small businesses and understand how the Trump administration's policies are impacting them.

"Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. We see it right here at Puckett's," Loeffler said. "I mean, they're here at work before most people even get out of bed."

She said small businesses nationwide are "optimistic," and she expects "a boom" coming for the U.S. economy.

Tennessee's economic growth is set to slow this year, according to The University of Tennessee Knoxville's Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. But new business formation in Tennessee is still more than double what it was 10 years ago, and companies that are launching here are staying in business longer on average — with 31.8% more businesses renewing their licenses in the fourth quarter of 2024 than did in 2023.

Hadley Hitson covers business news for The Tennessean. She can be reached at [email protected]. To support her work, subscribe to The Tennessean.

Comcast announced it will award grant packages to 100 small businesses in Nashville and surrounding areas as part of its Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment (RISE) program. This marks the second time Comcast RISE has supported small businesses in Nashville, emphasizing Comcast’s continued commitment to the city’s entrepreneurial community. RISE’s mission is to champion the growth of small businesses across Nashville while promoting digital inclusion and accessibility. The grants will provide resources and tools to help bridge the digital divide and foster opportunity.

Nashville is one of five regions where 100 eligible small businesses will have the opportunity to receive grant packages through Comcast RISE, including Boston, MA, Grand Rapids, MI, Seattle, WA and South Valley, UT. These 500 total recipients will join the 14,000 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been supported since the program launched in 2020.

As a small business, we know firsthand how challenging it can be—scrambling for resources, building a network, and learning the ropes,” said Derrick Moore, Emanuel Reed, and Clint Gray, founders of Slim & Husky’s. “A program like Comcast RISE can be a game-changer. The guidance, financial support, and digital tools Comcast RISE offers are exactly what Nashville’s entrepreneurs need to take their vision to the next level.”

Nashville-based small businesses can apply to receive comprehensive grant packages through Comcast RISE that include:

For more information or to apply, visit www.comcastrise.com. The application will be open May 1 – May 31.

Comcast RISE is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion commitment to create digital opportunity through programs and community partnerships that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.

Digital opportunity means ensuring every Nashvillian, regardless of location or income, has the broadband access, digital tools, and skills needed to succeed in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

“Nashville is a city of innovators and go-getters, and initiatives like Comcast RISE are vital to providing local entrepreneurs the tools and resources they need to thrive,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “This program will uplift our small business community, drive economic growth, and ensure that opportunities extend to every corner of our city.”

Comcast has partnered with local nonprofits, government agencies, and community organizations in Nashville for over 20 years to promote digital inclusion.

“Our goal is to unlock possibilities for all Nashvillians: Project UP is about ensuring that everyone has the tools and opportunities to succeed,” said Mike McArdle, Senior Vice President, Big South Region, Comcast. “With programs like Comcast RISE, we are helping small businesses navigate challenges, grow, and ultimately create a stronger, more connected community.”

In the last three years alone, Comcast has donated more than $9.5 million to Nashville-based organizations and initiatives focused on digital inclusion. Since 2011, Comcast has connected more than 680,000 low-income Nashvillians to the Internet at home through its Internet Essentials program, which provides low-cost broadband Internet service to eligible low-income families. Comcast has also established seven Lift Zones in Nashville, offering free Internet access in safe community spaces for students to study, adults to build skills, access healthcare resources, and search for jobs.

THP officers conducted 369 traffic stops in South Nashville at ICE's request, detaining 94 people. Gov. Lee confirms Tennessee's cooperation with federal immigration authorities in their operation.

Posted 1:44 PM, May 07, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee Highway Patrol officers have conducted hundreds of traffic stops in South Nashville at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with Gov. Bill Lee confirming the state is cooperating with federal authorities.

The traffic stops, which began on Saturday night, have resulted in dozens of people being detained for immigration violations.

"Our role is to be a partner with them and help when they request," Gov. Bill Lee said.

When asked about the operation during an unrelated visit to Columbia on Wednesday, Lee told reporters he couldn't explain why ICE targeted southeast Davidson County but expressed support for the federal agency's mission.

"We know that these folks that are dangerous that are in our backyard need to be removed. We want to be a partner with ICE and the federal government to remove criminals from the streets. So when they reached out to us, we were ready to coordinate with them," Lee said.

Since Saturday, May 3, around 10 THP troopers have made 369 traffic stops in Davidson County. In cases where individuals were found to be in the country illegally, ICE intervened. So far, 94 people have been detained for further investigation and transport.

ICE has provided limited information about those detained, only sharing brief descriptions of four individuals, including a gang member and others with past convictions for sex with a minor, aggravated assault, and drug possession.

The governor added that while this enforcement effort might surprise some residents, it shouldn't, noting that President Donald Trump has made addressing immigration issues a key priority.

Have you been affected by the increased immigration enforcement in South Nashville? We want to hear your perspective on how these operations are impacting local communities. Email me at [email protected].

This story was reported by Hannah McDonald and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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A raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Nashville’s immigrant corridor has increased tension between city and state officials.

More: ICE arrests drivers in South Nashville, sparking outrage from local officials

Mayor Freddie O’Connell has decried the wide-scale arrests of South Nashville drivers Saturday night. However, the mayor’s office is limited in how it can respond since state lawmakers have curbed the power of local officials to interfere with immigration enforcement.

Under a sweeping state law passed earlier this year, any local official who votes in favor of so-called “sanctuary policies” for immigrants could be removed from office and charged with a Class E felony.

Starting in July, the law will give state and local entities involved in immigration enforcement greater ability to shield records from the public.

O’Connell said he’s spoken with Gov. Bill Lee about his concerns as his office seeks the names and charges of those arrested.

“I flagged that this seems like a moment of significant tension increase between local and state,” O’Connell said. “(Lee) is … I would say, aware of the complicated landscape.”

Metro Law Director Wally Dietz said Monday that he is still working on a response to the immigration law.

“Tennessee has a long track record of stepping up to secure our Nation’s borders and strengthen public safety,” Gov. Bill Lee’s office said in an email to WPLN News. “President Trump made it clear that states would play a major role in enforcing immigration laws and removing the most violent offenders, and Americans overwhelmingly elected him to do so.”

O’Connell said it’s already hard to demand transparency from ICE officials, citing anecdotal reports that its Nashville facility has kept people in inhumane conditions.

“It is not a local operation, and it’s a very difficult place for us to be able to make any guarantees about the conditions inside,” O’Connell said.

The governor’s office and Nashville’s ICE office did not comment on the conditions of the facility.

While O’Connell cannot institute official sanctuary policies, the mayor announced a partnership with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to assist the families of those detained. The newly minted Belonging Fund will go towards emergency assistance for childcare, housing instability, transportation and other needs.

“Belonging is more than a feeling — it’s a sign of safety, stability, and community,” said Hal Cato, CEO of CFMT. “When immigrant families face a crisis, we want to ensure they’re not alone. This fund helps organizations on the ground respond quickly, compassionately, and effectively.”

To help seed the new fund, the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Conexion American and Tennessee Justice For Our Neighbors have committed more than $30,000 as initial contributors.

The fund is not intended to cover legal fees.