Written by Marsha Blackburn
U.S. Senator
Washington, D.C. – Jerson Diaz-Diaz should have never been allowed in our country. In March 2021, the Honduran national illegally crossed the southern border into Texas, where he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. But thanks to President Biden’s open-border policies, Diaz-Diaz was released. Last month, police in Nashville arrested him for sexually assaulting and exploiting a 15-year-old girl after connecting with her online and lying about his age.
Unlike the Joe Biden administration, the Donald Trump administration is ensuring that Diaz-Diaz can never harm another person in our country again. Earlier this month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against him, making the illegal alien ineligible for pretrial release. After facing justice in court, he will be on the first flight back to Honduras.
the historically high number of illegal aliens—including violent criminals—who have left our country either voluntarily or through deportation under President Trump. Since January 2025, the illegal alien population has fallen by 2.3 million, a near 15 percent drop that marks one of the largest declines in decades.
While Democrats continue to attack and denigrate ICE, our brave officers are working every day to keep Tennesseans and Americans across the country safe. This month, I had the honor of welcoming Attorney General Todd Blanche to our state to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Memphis Safe Task Force. Key to its success—including a 38 percent drop in violent crime—have been ICE operations that keep criminals off city streets.
During a raid on a Memphis nightclub in August, ICE agents apprehended over 120 illegal aliens, including those with criminal histories of domestic violence, child endangerment, assault, driving while intoxicated, drug possession, larceny, and prostitution. Since the start of the task force through July of this year, ICE in Shelby County had made close to 900 arrests, including 536 that resulted in deportation.
The task force’s remarkable success is a testament to what can be accomplished when local law enforcement work hand in hand with federal partners to keep communities safe. Last year, the Shelby County Sheriff signed a 287(g) agreement that allows officers to detain and transport illegal aliens wanted by ICE, making certain they remain off the streets and behind bars. In total, ICE has engaged in 120 287(g) partnerships across our state, leading to more than 1,300 arrests.
Among the criminals apprehended are some of the worst of the worst: a Honduran national who had felony convictions for sexual battery in Franklin; another Honduran illegal alien convicted of aggravated assault; an illegal alien from India convicted of drug trafficking; and a Mexican national with prior arrests for sexual battery, public intoxication, and driving without a license.
Tennessee must continue to build on this success, which is why I introduced the 287(g) Expansion Act alongside the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Under the legislation, states that agree to work with ICE would receive more grant funding through the Byrne Memorial JAG Program, which is the primary federal grant funding stream for state and local law enforcement. Departments that help ICE apprehend dangerous criminal illegal aliens deserve additional resources, and this legislation would ensure that they receive them.
ICE agents put their lives on the line every single day to keep our communities safe. They should have the support of every American, and Republicans will continue to fight to ensure that they have everything they need to get the job done.
