Activists decry Memphis Safe Task Force, immigrant arrests
Local activists said Friday that immigrant arrests are likely higher than the figures circulated by the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Aarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers public safety for The Daily Memphian. He began at The Daily Memphian in 2022, covering education before moving to public safety the following year. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis.
There are 848 articles by Aarron Fleming :
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October 2025
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Public Safety Nearly half of federal charges against Memphis doctor dismissed
U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman dismissed 17 of 36 charges against a local gynecologist, court records show.
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Public SafetyFederal public defender’s office struggling amid Memphis Safe Task Force
Amid a surge in arrests from the Memphis Task Force, the federal public defender’s office is “straining.”
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Public Safety Cleotha Abston rape conviction upheld by Appeals Court
The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has denied the appeal of Cleotha Abston’s rape conviction last year.
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Public Safety Man charged in drug trafficking scheme last year sentenced
A local man charged in a drug trafficking scheme last year will serve nearly four years in federal prison.
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Public Safety Bondi claims more than 150 arrests made in first week of Task Force
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has been posting data daily on X about the Memphis Safe Task Force, which officially began Monday.
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Public Safety MPD announces new data chief
He replaces Deputy Chief Joe Oakley, who had been with the department for 36 years. Oakley oversaw the launch and use of the department’s Real-Time Crime Center and its data collection.
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Financial Services Evolve Bank & Trust CEO arrested for child pornography
The arrest of Evolve Bank & Trust CEO Robert “Bob” Hartheimer is the latest challenge for the embattled Memphis-based bank.
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Public SafetyImmigration arrest numbers no longer part of Memphis Safe Task Force data releases
As recently as last week, ICE arrests made up nearly 19% of total Memphis Safe Task Force arrests. Where that stands now is unclear because the data is no longer being released.
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Public SafetyOne month in, Task Force is impacting crime. And straining the local justice system
The Memphis Safe Task Force is a month old. The federal law enforcement surge has impacted local crime rates but also strained parts of the local justice system many don’t ever see.
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November 2025
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MetroFederal task force fighting crime — and finding missing kids
While fighting crime is the bulk of its work, the task force has notably been publicizing another statistic: the number of missing children it has located.
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MetroEvery time a bell rings, a driver gets their license
Whether Memphians truly change their driving habits as a result of the task force remains to be seen. But it is clear many people are making sure their documentation is up to date.
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Public Safety Memphis gynecologist reindicted on more charges
Under a new indictment, Sanjeev Kumar faces 46 total charges.
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Public Safety Trial date pushed for two over 2022 death of jail inmate
Two men charged in the 2022 death of a Shelby County Jail inmate will go to trial next summer.
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Public Safety Second inmate in a week dies at 201 Poplar
The man who died is at least the ninth person to die in the jail this year and at least the 66th since 2019, based on records and reporting by The Daily Memphian.
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Public Safety Man shot by Task Force officers charged with attempted murder
The man was shot during a police pursuit after allegedly shooting someone while robbing a nearby business.
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Public SafetyMarshals Service releases new immigration arrest totals
Prior to the most recent data provided, the U.S. Marshals Service had last given out immigration numbers on Oct. 16.
Related content:
Man shot by Task Force officers charged with attempted murder
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Public Safety Former county director to be released from jail
DeAndre Brown, the former director of the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry, was indicted and arrested for multiple financial felonies related to alleged mishandling of money given to his nonprofit.
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Public Safety 201 Poplar inmate’s death possibly linked to pepper spray, autopsy says
A Shelby County Jail inmate who died this summer possibly died from being pepper-sprayed by jail staff, according to his official autopsy report.
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Shelby County Judge to deny dismissal request for case against Ford
A federal judge will deny a request to dismiss one of the charges against Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., he said Wednesday, Nov. 5.
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Shelby County Hundreds of jail inmates will be moved to combat overcrowding, sheriff says
Bonner also denied that his office is working with ICE to make immigration arrests and talked about inmate deaths at the jail, also known as 201 Poplar.
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Public Safety Charges stack up for teen shot by Task Force officer
A man shot by a Memphis Safe Task Force officer Oct. 31 in front of a Corky’s BBQ faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and could serve up to life in prison.
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Public Safety Memphis gynecologist asks for case to be dismissed, again
Local gynecologist Sanjeev Kumar, who was indicted earlier this year on dozens of federal charges, has asked for his case to be dismissed again and this time for good.
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