Second Nonprofit Behind Seed Money for
Nashville’s ‘Belonging Fund’ Got
Nearly $1 Million in Taxpayer Dollars
to Fight Immigrant Evictions
Posted By: philsner, 5/29/2025 7:46:42 AM
Public records reveal that Conexion Americas, the second of three nonprofits Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his office said provided seed money to the “Belonging Fund,” used to “support immigrants in Nashville during moments of crisis,” received nearly $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money from Metro Nashville over 2023 and 2024. The 2023 Full Cost Plan published by Metro Nashville revealed Conexion Americas received $394,140 in ARPA money that year, with the entry listed as “Conexion Americas Eviction Serv.” There was no overhead or other expenses reflected in the report, suggesting Metro Nashville merely transferred the money
people like this.
people like this.
people like this.
people like this.
person likes this.
people like this.
people like this.
person likes this.
Below, you will find ...
Most Recent Articles posted by "philsner"
and
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Most Recent Articles posted by
philsner"
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell Silent
After Metro Accused of Leaking Names of
DHS Officials 8 replies
After Metro Accused of Leaking Names of
DHS Officials 8 replies
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell did not respond to multiple press inquiries from The Tennessee Star after Metro Nashville was accused of publicly leaking the names of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Homeland Security Investigations officials who participated in the recent immigration enforcement operation that resulted in nearly 200 arrests of illegal immigrants.
O’Connell was accused of leaking the names on Wednesday by U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05), who noted that Metro Nashville published names of DHS and HSI officials to a Nashville data portal affiliated with the Metro Office of New Americans.
Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) on Wednesday joined other local elected leaders in a letter accusing President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice, and Republican officials across the country of attempting to intimidate local Democrats.
Sent by the progressive activist organization, Local Progress, the letter accuses Trump and other Republicans of attempting to intimidate Democrats through the criminal charges recently filed against U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), who allegedly assaulted federal law enforcement at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in New Jersey.
It also raised the charges filed against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka,
Public records reveal that Conexion Americas, the second of three nonprofits Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his office said provided seed money to the “Belonging Fund,” used to “support immigrants in Nashville during moments of crisis,” received nearly $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money from Metro Nashville over 2023 and 2024.
The 2023 Full Cost Plan published by Metro Nashville revealed Conexion Americas received $394,140 in ARPA money that year, with the entry listed as “Conexion Americas Eviction Serv.” There was no overhead or other expenses reflected in the report, suggesting Metro Nashville merely transferred the money
Border czar Tom Homan said he plans to visit Nashville in the “near future” to oversee increased immigration enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the city’s mayor, Freddie O’Connell, advances efforts to shield illegal aliens from law enforcement.
Earlier this month, a joint immigration enforcement operation conducted by ICE in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) in Nashville resulted in the arrests of 196 criminal illegal aliens.Despite the operation seeing the removal of aliens with violent criminal histories, O’Connell has maintained that the enforcement operation was “not focused” on making the city “safer,”
Protesters were recorded pounding on the windows of the Tennessee State Capitol by U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) on Monday as he held a “Stop the Invasion” press conference inside, where he was joined by various Tennessee lawmakers who expressed support for the efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to remove illegal immigrants from the Volunteer State.
Ogles held the press conference after his requests for congressional probes into Mayor Freddie O’Connell over the city’s response to the recent ICE immigration enforcement operation in Nashville, which saw nearly 200 arrests. Ninety-five of these individuals had previous and pending criminal charges.
Congressman Andy Ogles to Hold an Event
in Nashville to Rally Support for Immigration Enforcement 1 reply
in Nashville to Rally Support for Immigration Enforcement 1 reply
Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) will hold a press conference on Monday in Nashville to rally support for immigration enforcement efforts in the Volunteer State.
Ogles’ event, titled “Stop the Invasion: Defend Tennessee,” will be held on Monday, May 26 at 1:00 p.m. CT at the Tennessee State Capitol to “rally support for federal law enforcement and reaffirm Tennessee’s commitment to protecting its citizens from the rising threats posed by illegal aliens.”
The event will feature officials from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Nashville City Council, the Tennessee General Assembly, and victims
Nashville Immigration Battle Highlights
Cozy Relationship Between City and Murky
Non-Profit Spending 7 replies
Cozy Relationship Between City and Murky
Non-Profit Spending 7 replies
An audit of Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) — one of the key progressive players opposing President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts in Middle Tennessee — found “material weaknesses” and “significant deficiencies” in its accounting procedures.”
In its 2023 audit — the most recent available — the Certified Public Accounting Firm Watkins Uiberol, found TIRRC did not track how some $383,497 in taxpayer money it passed through to other groups was spent. Auditors also found TIRCC “did not adequately monitor the sub-recipients use of federal awards or comply with compliance requirements.” In violation of federal rules,
U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) on Tuesday highlighted videos recently uploaded to social media by State Representative Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), during which the state lawmaker appears to take credit for briefly impeding the recent joint immigration enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).
According to Ogles, such behavior is enabled within Metro Nashville by Mayor Freddie O’Connell.
“This is Nashville State Representative Aftyn Behn,” wrote Ogles in a post to the social media platform X, containing a clip from Behn’s account on Instagram.
“She just posted a 15-minute video
The Department of Homeland Security has released more information following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Nashville.
Alongside the new information, DHS also called out Mayor Freddie O’Connell by saying, “Pro-open borders politicians—like Mayor O’Connell—would rather protect illegal aliens than American citizens.”
DHS reported that the joint operation between ICE and the Tennessee Highway Patrol resulted in 196 arrests. Of those arrests, 95 of them reportedly have prior criminal convictions and pending charges, and 31 were previously removed individuals who reentered the U.S. illegally.
The Nashville Community Review Board is urging residents to submit a formal complaint against any Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officers seen cooperating with immigration enforcement efforts.
“If you believe you experienced or witnessed an immigration related event involving MNPD officers, then you can file a complaint through the NCRB. You can file by phone, email, or our website. You may file anonymously. Translation services available,” the Community Review Board said in a social media post.
“Don’t hesitate to reach out – we are ready to assist you. Anonymity is respected. Our complaint line is 615-880-1801,” the Community Review Board added.
Another Tennessee television network publishes a story about how recent ICE arrests will impact the state’s economy without discussing who has been arrested.
On Wednesday, WSMV4 published a story talking about how the construction industry is being impacted by the federal government’s arrest of illegal immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security announced this week that almost 200 criminal illegal aliens were arrested. Ninety-five of these individuals had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges. Another 31 people had entered America illegally after being deported, which is a felony.
The outlet talked to an owner of a construction business,
Metro Nashville leaders respond to the
Department of Homeland Security’s arrest announcement 9 replies
Department of Homeland Security’s arrest announcement 9 replies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Several Nashville leaders have responded to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security detailing arrests made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. On Tuesday, the DHS put out a press release detailing that 196 individuals were arrested over the course of a joint operation between ICE and THP. The DHS claimed that 95 of those people had prior criminal convictions, identifying and detailing five. None of the other identities or charges have been released.Within the same press release, the DHS said that Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell stood “by pro-illegal policies.”
Most Active Articles (last 48 hours)
Arkansas kindergarten graduation devolves
into wild brawl between parents as children
scream ‘stop!’ 47 replies
into wild brawl between parents as children
scream ‘stop!’ 47 replies
An Arkansas kindergarten graduation descended into madness when a large brawl broke out between parents, forcing school officials to scold the “unacceptable” behavior displayed in front of the little tykes.
Several adults threw punches at each other in the hallway of West Memphis’ Faulk Elementary on Wednesday as the frightened screams of nearby children filled the crowded corridor.
Multiple men and women were in the center of the melee, plowing through the school as other parents rushed to get their children away from the danger, according to video obtained by WREG. Kids could also be heard crying “stop” in the video.
An anti-Trump IT specialist the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) was arrested on Thursday for attempting to provide classified national defense information to a foreign government.
According to the DOJ, Nathan Vilas Laatsch, 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was arrested on Thursday in northern Virginia, and will make his initial court appearance in the Eastern District of Virginia on Friday.
The Justice Department said Laatsch offered to transmit classified information to the foreign government because he did not “agree or align with the values of this administration” and was therefore “willing to share classified information” that he had access to, including “completed intelligence products, some unprocessed intelligence, and other assorted classified documentation.”
Poor, poor Michelle Obama. The former First Lady has to decide which of her three multi-million dollar estates to spend the night in. She has to deal with a fawning leftist press that treats her like she’s some sort of goddess. Her husband was once one of the most widely adored politicians on the planet, she never has to work another day in her life if she doesn’t want to, and she has two grown children who are healthy and apparently happy.
But it’s all so stressful.
Lately, for reasons only known to herself, she’s been podcasting with her brother on a low-rated show called "IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson,"
HARTFORD, CT- Once again, Connecticut Democrats have come down on the wrong side of an 80/20 issue. Last week, the House Democratic majority advanced legislation that will force municipalities to abide by the state’s so-called “Trust Act,” which permits “any aggrieved person” to seek an injunction against a municipality or its agents, including police and school employees, that cooperate with federal immigration officials, the CT Mirror reports.
The bill was revised after pro-illegal alien advocates argued that municipalities, i.e., police departments, can ignore the state law already in place that defines when police and others can alert federal agents to the location of
I assure you no one was more dithery than I as we watched vans full of ballots arrive at voting stations in various swing states in the early morning after Election Day in 2020. We saw most of the swing states stop counting votes at almost the same time, something that has never happened in my 59 years.
We were appalled to watch this stooge in Detroit as he covered the windows in a ballot-counting office. And yet, no one did anything.
I truly believed we had a "system" to keep treasonous oiks from stealing an election so blatantly. I assumed this would all get figured out in the courts,
WASHINGTON — A federal court on Wednesday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs on imports under an emergency-powers law, swiftly throwing into doubt Trump’s signature set of economic policies that have rattled global financial markets, frustrated trade partners and raised broader fears about inflation intensifying and the economy slumping.
The ruling from a three-judge panel at the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade came after several lawsuits arguing Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs exceeded his authority and left the country’s trade policy dependent on his whims.
Trump has repeatedly said the tariffs would force manufacturers to bring back factory jobs to the U.S.
'It's Hopeless': Crestfallen CBS Hack
Lesley Stahl Doesn't 'See a Path Out'
of Trump's America 25 replies
Lesley Stahl Doesn't 'See a Path Out'
of Trump's America 25 replies
Poor Lesley Stahl, bless her Trump-loathing heart.
The veteran CBS News reporter not only doesn't see a way out of the horrors visited upon America by President Donald Trump; she's also "kind of down" as a result.
Please.
The CBS "60 Minutes" correspondent appears in a fearmongering PBS special, titled "How Much Executive Power Is Too Much? Breaking the Deadlock: A Power Play," which masquerades as an in-depth look at the executive powers of the presidency.
Yes, gang — without reading another word, you can already tell that the dumpster-fire special is simply another hit piece on Trump in which he's portrayed as a threat to democracy.
USDA Employee and Five Others Busted
In One of the Largest Food Stamp Frauds
in American History 24 replies
In One of the Largest Food Stamp Frauds
in American History 24 replies
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on Thursday that a longtime USDA employee and five others were busted in one of the largest food stamp frauds in U.S. history.
A short time ago, Perry Carbone, Attorney for the United States, Charmeka Parker, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI revealed a superseding indictment was unsealed charging six people in connection with a $66 million-plus fraud and bribery scheme under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aka food stamp program.
Senator Chuck Grassley Declassifies FBI
Files on Nellie Ohr, Including Lies Told
to Congress 22 replies
Files on Nellie Ohr, Including Lies Told
to Congress 22 replies
Eight years ago, I created a simple graphic to help readers and researchers understand how Nellie Ohr was connected to the construct of the Steele Dossier, the core source material that underpinned the Title-1 FISA surveillance warrant used against the Donald Trump 2016 campaign and President Trump administration.
In addition to outlining how Nellie Ohr took Ham radio operator classes (May 2016) during her employment with Fusion GPS (began Dec 2015), the graphic shows the circular process of how the Steele Dossier (technically Nellie Ohr’s dossier) was constructed. (snip) graphic is also a timeline showing how Nellie Ohr interacted with the overall ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ investigation, which eventually evolved to
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged Wednesday to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets as the Kyiv government fights to repel Russia’s invasion.
Some of the advanced weapon systems that allies have supplied to Ukraine during the 3-year war were subject to range and target restrictions — a fraught political issue stemming from fears that if the weapons struck deep inside Russia, the Kremlin might retaliate against the country that provided them and draw NATO into Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II.
This week, we saw a spate of news stories blaming Democrats’ troubles on their vocabulary. They’re just using too many darn multisyllabic, academic-sounding words and turning off numbskull voters, is the basic message.
Seriously?
The Democrats’ problem isn’t linguistic, it’s ideological. But no one in the party wants to admit that.
A Washington Post story this week – “Democratic troubles revive debate over left-wing buzzwords” – begins by saying:
Maybe it’s using the word ‘oligarchs’ instead of rich people. Or referring to ‘people experiencing food insecurity’ rather than Americans going hungry. Or ‘equity’ in place of ‘equality,’ or ‘justice-involved populations’ instead of prisoners.
NewsNation host Chris Cuomo dismissed the issue of illegal immigrants murdering Americans during a Thursday episode of his podcast.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recorded a total of 13,099 non-detained illegal immigrants convicted of homicide as of July 21, according to a September 2024 letter. In response to a viewer question on “The Chris Cuomo Project” about whether Cuomo would modify his view of the two parties if they stuck to governing instead of partisanship, he said he would not, citing the politics of Laken Riley’s murder at the hands of an illegal immigrant as a reason.