Memphis residents are forcefully rejecting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s assertion that the city has avoided the kind of unrest seen in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent, and they’re doing it loudly, emotionally, and in public.
A discussion in r/memphis lit up over the weekend following Noem’s remarks, with hundreds of commenters accusing federal officials of misrepresenting what’s actually happening on the ground in Tennessee’s largest city. While Noem praised Memphis as an example of successful cooperation between local leaders and federal law enforcement, many Memphians say that narrative erases fear, anger, and real harm within immigrant communities.
‘Low-key’ enforcement
Some commenters acknowledged that Memphis looks different from Minneapolis on the surface. National Guard troops are visible in small groups downtown, and ICE operations don’t always appear as aggressive or confrontational as those captured on viral videos elsewhere.
“I live in Memphis and this is accurate from my experience,” one resident wrote. “The National Guard is noticeable downtown. ICE operations are here, but not actively harassing random people to stir things up.”…