Convening in Music City for immigration solutionshttps://immigrationforum.org/

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Leading the Way in NashvilleGreetings,

Two weeks ago, leaders from all of the Forum’s constituency groups gathered in Nashville, Tennessee for the 2025 Leading the Way convening. Nashville has seen a large growth [link removed] in immigration, with foreign-born workers playing a crucial role in the local economy. It was in this space that Leading the Way brought together voices of pastors, police chiefs, evangelical women, national security experts, and business leaders to discuss pragmatic solutions for all Americans.

Throughout Leading the Way, attendees had the opportunity to hear from distinguished immigration experts regarding the impacts of federal immigration enforcement, the U.S. global retreat, and how immigrants fuel Nashville’s thriving economy and communities. Additionally, the program included a Keynote from Stephen Moore [link removed] and a Fireside Chat with Former Reps. Reid Ribble and Jim Cooper [link removed]. To watch full recordings of the various panels click here [link removed].

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Sheriff Clarence Birkhead (Durham County, NC) speaks on the ‘U.S. Under Pressure: Impacts of Federal Enforcement’ panel in Nashville (Source: Forum)

Voices from the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) and Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) were prevalent at this year’s convening. Sheriff Clarence Birkhead of Durham County, North Carolina (an LEITF member) joined moderator Theresa Cardinal Brown, Jenet DeCosta of Driscoll’s, Bri Stensrud of Women of Welcome, and Tim Quinn formerly of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (and a CNSI member) to discuss the impacts of federal enforcement. [link removed] Quinn shared about his experience working for CBP and emphasized that on the U.S.-Mexico border, "things change and they change quickly and they change often." Throughout the first year of this Trump administration, we’ve seen the profound impact policies and increased enforcement has had on the border, with border encounters at a record low not seen since the 1970s [link removed].

While heavy handed enforcement from the administration continues, Sheriff Birkhead talked about the realities he has seen in his community. He mentioned that "it’s a struggle between delivering good public safety initiatives and building trust in the community while we have a climate that is pushing us further and further apart and diving us on this issue of immigration." In his community, ICE’s presence "breeds fear and mistrust in law enforcement," so much so that people in Durham are afraid to attend community events. The effects on local communities in North Carolina and across the U.S. have contributed to a climate of fear. We must and can do better.

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Nashville Police Department Commander Carlos Lara speaks on the ‘Nashville Thrives: How All Community Members Foster Growth and a Stronger Local Economy’ panel in Nashville, TN (Source: Forum)

Our time in Nashville allowed the Forum to spotlight the ways community members are helping their community grow and thrive. This panel [link removed] included Katie Richards of Siloam Health, Dr. Todd Lake of Belmont University, Commander Carlos Lara of the Metro Nashville Police Department, and Paul Besso of Cummins.

Commander Lara highlighted the MNPD’s ongoing efforts to engage with the city’s diverse communities. He shared how officers have taken proactive steps to build trust and foster personal connections across cultural lines. The department frequently participates in cultural festivals and community events, interacting with residents, playing with children, and embracing local cuisines, as ways to strengthen relationships. They also collaborate with consulates and host informational sessions to ensure community members understand their rights. Commander Lara asserted the vital role immigrants in Nashville play in shaping the city’s identity and warned that losing immigrant communities would mean losing what makes Nashville amazing culturally and economically. Immigrants are woven into the very fabric of Nashville and communities around the United States. Losing their presence would be devastating.

The opportunity to gather in Nashville was extremely encouraging, and we thank our hosts at Belmont University for helping make our convening possible. Seeing so many people ready to come to the table and work toward solutions that will make America thrive and restore welcome provides me with hope. As we go forward, we must continue to take this momentum with us. Please join us in contacting your representatives [link removed] to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigration reforms.

Stay committed and hopeful,

Andrea

**Andrea Corro**
Field and Constituencies Coordinator
Forum 

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

**POLITICO:**Trump’s visa fee sparks rare bipartisan interest in immigration legislation [link removed]

**NEWSWEEK:**Businesses Sound Alarm on Urgent Labor Shortages Amid Immigration Crackdown [link removed]

**USA TODAY:** Illegal border crossings plunge under Trump in 2025, but numbers are rising [link removed]

**BLOOMBERG LAW:**US Loses Renewed Bid to Halt Legal Funds for Migrant Children [link removed]

**NPR:**Tackles, projectiles and gunfire: Many fear ICE tactics are growing more violent [link removed]

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