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Police raid on Memphis bar turns into mass immigration sweep detaining 120 people

Aug 29, 2026·Location: Memphis, TN

Police raid on Memphis bar turns into mass immigration sweep detaining 120 people
Photo via The Guardian

An operation at the El Corralón bar in Memphis that began as a local police raid targeting illegal gambling and drugs, executed by state law enforcement with immigration agents working alongside them, turned into one of the largest immigration sweeps in Tennessee history. Agents shut off the music, gathered everyone on the dancefloor, and asked patrons one by one about their legal status, ultimately detaining 120 people.

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