Steve Smith, a well-known Trump supporter and Nashville bar owner, had to close the kitchens at three of his popular Broadway restaurants over the weekend because his workers feared they would be arrested by ICE.
On Saturday night, staff at The Diner, Honky Tonk Central, and Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk were sent home after a surge in ICE activity around the city. One employee told Nashville Scene, “We were already understaffed because of the ICE raids throughout the weekend. Then, around 9:30 p.m., our manager came back and told anyone without legal status to go home.”
The closures hit at a peak time when large crowds were out after events at the Ryman, Ascend, and the Savannah Bananas baseball game. “It was crazy busy, but there was no one in the kitchen to cook the food,” the worker explained.
The ICE sweeps, which started on May 3, have resulted in almost 200 arrests, with more than half having no criminal record. The crackdown has sparked criticism from local officials and immigrant advocates, while Nashville’s top lawyer said the city is “powerless” to stop the raids.
Smith, a vocal Trump donor who has backed conservative candidates and opposed public health mandates, now faces the consequences of the very immigration policies he supports. On Sunday, the staffing shortage continued as workers stayed home, still afraid of being targeted by ICE. Without a full kitchen staff, the restaurants could not operate.