Compassion in Action: Nashville Volunteers Bring Hope and Essentials to Immigrant Families in Need

Nashville’s 80-Year-Old Volunteer Making a Difference

In Nashville, 80-year-old Lynne McFarland is still working hard, even in retirement. Instead of a quiet life, she’s dedicating her time to helping families of undocumented immigrants. Three days each week, she packs and delivers about 25 boxes of food and essentials to those in need—many of whom fear stepping outside.

McFarland is one of a small group of volunteers in her city. She understands the fear these families face, as many have experienced loved ones being detained or deported. “I can’t really appreciate how afraid they are because I’ve never been that afraid,” she shared with CBS News.

The current situation in the U.S. highlights her concerns. In June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made around 1,000 arrests daily, a number far below the previous administration’s goal of 3,000. Republican state Sen. Jack Johnson remarked on the commitment of local law enforcement to pursue undocumented immigrants, indicating that fear exists on all sides.

A Venezuelan man living in Tennessee expressed his own terror. Despite having no legal issues and being granted Temporary Protected Status, he was detained when he showed up for a hearing. After a month in detention, he was released, but his future in America remains uncertain. His story reflects the anxieties many share, especially after a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the end of the TPS program for Venezuelans.

Recent statistics reveal that nearly half of the 59,000 individuals detained by ICE have no criminal record. This trend raises questions about the fairness of current immigration policies. McFarland summed it up well: “There’s fear that we don’t know who’s next.”

Volunteers like McFarland continue to bridge the gap for those in distress, reminding us all of our shared humanity in times of uncertainty.

For more information about immigration policies and their impacts, check out CBS News.

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Immigration, Deportation, Mass Deportation, Nashville