Memphis Immigration Task Force Arrests Mostly Non-Violent Offenders, Records Show
New data reveals Memphis Safe Task Force arrested mostly non-violent immigrants despite mission to combat street crime.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE — Federal immigration enforcement in Memphis has predominantly targeted individuals for non-violent offenses despite being deployed to combat street and violent crime, according to new records obtained by investigative journalists.
Just 2% of immigration arrests made by the Memphis Safe Task Force involved individuals charged with violent crimes, data reveals. The task force, which includes more than two dozen state, local and federal law enforcement agencies plus the National Guard, has made over 5,200 arrests in and around Memphis since its September 2025 deployment under President Donald Trump’s executive order.
About a quarter of all task force arrests have been for violent crimes, according to records analyzed by MLK50: Justice Through Journalism and ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network.
Street Vendors Among Those Targeted
The enforcement campaign has swept through immigrant communities, affecting both documented and undocumented residents. Elmer, a 44-year-old street vendor from Honduras who asked that only his first name be used, witnessed multiple arrests near his shoe stand outside a Memphis convenience store.
Last fall, Elmer watched as agents wearing Homeland Security vests arrested two Guatemalan men in a nearby parking lot while he and his son were setting up their shoe stand. Hours later, the Mexican owner of a taco truck across the street was also detained by immigration authorities.
In December, Elmer’s 19-year-old nephew was arrested during a traffic stop and remains incarcerated in a Tennessee detention center. Elmer and his son fled Honduras seven years ago to escape gang violence and are not authorized to be in the United States.
Task Force Mission vs. Reality
The Memphis Safe Task Force was established through Trump’s September presidential order with the stated mission “to end street and violent crime in Memphis to the greatest possible extent.” This approach differs from federal immigration operations in Minneapolis, Chicago and other cities where officers focused primarily on ramping up deportations.
However, the arrest data suggests the task force’s immigration enforcement component has largely captured individuals not connected to violent criminal activity. The discrepancy between the stated mission and actual arrests raises questions about the operation’s effectiveness in addressing Memphis’s crime concerns.
Elmer described the constant anxiety felt by immigrant community members, saying he remains vigilant while working, “ready to serve — or to run.” He positions himself at his shoe stand with “his head on a swivel,” greeting customers while scanning the street for law enforcement activity.
Broader Implications
The Memphis operation represents one of several large-scale immigration enforcement efforts launched during Trump’s second term. Unlike other cities where federal agents conducted traditional immigration sweeps, Memphis was designated for a multi-agency approach targeting both immigration violations and street crime simultaneously.
The task force includes personnel from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Tennessee National Guard, and various local law enforcement agencies. The operation has maintained a visible presence in immigrant neighborhoods throughout the city since its launch.
Community advocates and immigrant rights organizations have expressed concern about the operation’s impact on local residents, particularly those who fled violence in their home countries and now face potential deportation despite having no violent criminal history in the United States.
