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Salvadoran construction worker arrested by ICE at Nashville gas station on his birthday, held without charges

May 15, 2025 · Nashville, TN, El Salvador

Edgardo David Campos, a 55-year-old Salvadoran man who has lived in the United States for 30 years, was arrested by ICE agents in tactical gear at a gas station in South Nashville in early May on his birthday. A Tennessee state trooper was present during the arrest, which was captured on video by bystander Dinora Romero, who helped locate his family and return his vehicle to his home. Campos is a construction and tire installation worker and devoted family man married with a wife. His cousin Laura Campos described him as "the first to arrive and the last to leave" at his church, always willing to volunteer and help others. The Nashville Catholic Diocese and local parishioners rallied around him, with a parish petition describing him as the "heart of our parish" who has faithfully served in multiple church ministries for years. The arrest was part of "Operation Flood the Zone," a coordinated week-long effort between Tennessee state police and ICE targeting Latino neighborhoods, during which over 600 vehicles were stopped and ICE claimed nearly 200 arrests. Campos was held at Putnam County Jail over the weekend with no charges filed, then transferred to Knox County Jail where charges remained unfiled. Spanish-speaking parishes in Nashville saw a 50% drop in Mass attendance following the operation.

Timeline

May 15, 2025Nashville Catholic Diocese and local parishioners launched petition demanding Campos's immediate release and expressing concerns about due process; Spanish-speaking parishes in Nashville reported 50% drop in Mass attendance following operation
May 5, 2025Campos transferred to Knox County Jail where charges remained unfiled
May 4, 2025Campos held at Putnam County Jail over the weekend with no charges filed
May 4, 2025Operation Flood the Zone resulted in over 600 vehicles stopped and nearly 200 ICE arrests in predominantly Latino neighborhoods; joint investigation found only about one-quarter of those arrested had criminal records and over 90% of drivers stopped on first night were Black, Latino, or Middle Eastern
May 3, 2025Edgardo David Campos arrested by ICE agents at gas station in South Nashville on his birthday during joint ICE and Tennessee Highway Patrol operation; bystander Dinora Romero recorded arrest

Sources

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