Nashville mayoral candidates on immigration policy: Here are the key takeaways

Yihyun Jeong
The Tennessean

From deportation to police body cameras, four mayoral candidates discussed how they would lead Nashville on immigration issues Monday, at a time when the country remains divided.

It was standing room only at Plaza Mariachi where more than 700 people attended the evening forum hosted by Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. 

There are nine candidates vying to unseat Mayor David Briley in the August election. Briley was at the forum, along with two of his major challengers: state Rep. John Ray Clemmons and at-large council member John Cooper. 

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Mayoral candidates (left) At-large Council member John Cooper, state Rep. John Ray Clemmons, educator Julia Clark-Johnson and Mayor David Briley discuss immigration issues at Monday's TIRRC forum.

Joining the trio was Julia Clark-Johnson, an educator who also ran in last year's mayoral race. Notably absent from the forum was retired Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain, a conservative who came in second place in last year's special mayoral election. 

All agreed that the city needs to form a line of defense against the federal government’s immigration policies, but varied on how the city should fund and prioritize initiatives in Nashville. 

"The mayor has a critical role to play in ensuring that all communities are able to fully participate in and contribute to our city," said Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of TIRRC. “And that everyone, no matter where they're from or how they got here, has the opportunity to be powerfully engaged in shaping the future of our city." 

“We’re supposed to be nonpartisan, but I am going to say the number one priority is to beat Donald Trump,” Briley said.

Clemmons said he would ensure equality, create opportunity and demand justice for everyone, while Cooper looked out at the diverse audience, saying Nashville has "arrived." 

"We have every ingredient to be the most successful city in the country. But we need to do it together," Cooper said. 

Clark-Johnson said she was running for mayor to "make Nashville a city that welcomes all people" and serves everyone fairly. 

The mayoral election is Aug. 1 with early voting starting July 12. 

Here are some of the key discussions from the forum.

Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of TIRRC, makes opening remarks at mayoral forum.

How do we improve policing?

Cooper said Metro needs to stop with its "outdated quota practice" and instead adopt a community policing plan. The police department needs to better recruit from diverse communities, he said, to have a police force that better reflects the population it serves.

"The lack of trust that exists in some places needs to be replaced with reliability and communication," he said. 

His thoughts were echoed by Clark-Johnson, who said she, if elected mayor, would work with Metro police to collaborate with communities. 

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Clemmons called it a shame that no action has been taken since the release of Gideon’s Army research project, Driving While Black. He said the community has been waiting too long for the root causes to be addressed.

Then, the state representative made a push for "fully and finally" implementing body cameras in the city.

"There's no excuse," he said. 

In his $2.33 billion proposed budget, Briley allocated $3 million for body-worn cameras for officers. 

At the forum, Briley pointed to the recently announced review of Nashville's court fines and fees. He said he is willing to lower them because they disproportionately impact those who can't afford to pay them.

"It's an equity problem," he said. "I'm committed to eliminating all unnecessary fees." 

More than 700 people attended the mayoral forum hosted by Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition Monday at Plaza Mariachi

What about affordable housing?

While Nashville’s recent growth has brought jobs and opportunities, home prices have nearly doubled in the past six years. Combined with scarcer home inventory, rising interest rates and population growth, the boom has left behind many lower-income residents. 

“Immigrant communities have the problem that everyone else does — but magnified," Cooper said, saying that the city needs programs that would create pathways to ownership and increased income for the immigrant community.

The ultimate solution, he said, is investing and workforce skills.

Clemmons said a holistic approach is needed — one that focuses on wages, transportation and education. He said he would create a dedicated revenue stream for affordable housing. He proposed spending at least $50 million to fully fund the Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing.

Briley touted his Under One Room 2029 initiative that looks to commit $500 million in public funds to create at least 10,000 mixed-use units in the next 10 years. 

"We don't just need to talk about it," he said. "We just need to do it."

But the mayor also noted that those who entered the country illegally can't go to MDHA and acknowledged that finding housing is more difficult. 

Clark-Johnson cited gentrification as a big problem.

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How do we protect from deportation?

State lawmakers passed a law last year that prohibits cities from becoming sanctuary cities. Despite the prohibition, Clark-Johnson said if elected, she would secure sanctuary status for Nashville in her first year. 

Then, she said, she will allocate money in the budget to fund programs to teach residents English and offer help to get them naturalized. 

Clemmons said he would end private prisons in Nashville, speaking about CoreCivic, a contractor that operates detention centers and is based in Nashville. 

"There is no reason that a private company should be getting paid by our city to profit off our families that call Nashville home," he said, getting one of the loudest applauses of the night. 

He would also focus on making schools a "safe space," to build trust with families. Clemmons also said he would hire a new Metro law director that would stand up against the state when it preempts the city. 

Cooper said local governments need to be careful "not to do the federal government’s work." 

He said its key issue is the city's lack of translation services to make sure that undocumented residents feel safe in the city when calling 911 or asking for services at "all levels of the city."

"It's a basic right for people to communicate with their government," he said. 

"Police are directed not to ask about immigration status," Briley said. "I know it's not exactly what's happening on the streets."

He said Metro police need more education on how to work with immigrant communities.

But the mayor pointed to the sheriff's office, calling it the place that has the "biggest problem with immigration enforcement. 

"I encourage you to remember that when it comes times," he said. 

Yihyun Jeong covers politics in Nashville for USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee. Reach her at yjeong@tennessean.com and follow her on Twitter @yihyun_jeong.