Restaurants Close Kitchens as Raids Spark Worker Exodus

  • Three high-profile Nashville restaurants, including Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk, have faced ongoing kitchen closures due to staff shortages linked to ICE raids.
  • Managers reportedly instructed undocumented workers to leave mid-shift on May 3, leading to service disruptions during a busy weekend in the city’s entertainment district.
  • The ICE operation, which began May 3, has resulted in nearly 200 arrests, with over half of those detained having no criminal record, according to DHS.
  • Steve Smith, a prominent Trump supporter and owner of the affected restaurants, has faced criticism as his businesses rely on the immigrant labor targeted by the raids.
  • Nashville officials have condemned the enforcement actions but acknowledge they lack legal authority to…

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