After denials from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson who says the department has "no record of any ICE employee" visiting Una Elementary School last month, Metro Nashville Public Schools has released more details of the incident that alarmed immigration advocates and Metro officials.

MNPS spokesperson Dawn Rutledge tells the Scene that "two men in official-looking uniforms arrived at Una Elementary School, stating that they were government agents," adding that "they had official-looking IDs." Rutledge also says: "The men had a list of student names and demanded those students’ records. The staff reported that the men were intimidating and said they were entitled to see the records."

The Scene reported last week that, according to MNPS, immigration officials showed up at Una Elementary School in southeast Nashville and requested student records. The school district says that Una Elementary's principal turned down the request. The Scene reached out to ICE for comment before publishing the story but did not get an immediate response.

Two days later, on Oct. 12, acting ICE press secretary Bryan D. Cox sent the following statement by email:

Your piece has certainly prompted a lot of interest these past few days: https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pith-in-the-wind/article/21091593/ice-sought-student-records-from-a-nashville-elementary-school One problem; there’s no evidence that it happened. Our Nashville offices, and our Student and Exchange Visitor Program, have no record of any ICE employee having been to the school during that time period. A prominent correction is in order here given this was reported as fact, when in reality it’s an unverified rumor that needlessly spreads fear and misinformation about this agency that simply is not accurate as to how we operate. Here is the reality of how ICE actually operates – in general, this agency does not conduct any sort of immigration enforcement activity at schools. The ICE sensitive locations policy, which remains in effect, clearly specifies that enforcement actions at designated sensitive locations should generally be avoided. This policy includes schools. We have been in touch with the school district to request more information that could potentially help clarify what they’re talking about — if there may have been another law enforcement agency or individual not associated with ICE. However, again, we have no record of any ICE personnel having been there.

Since receiving that statement from ICE, the Scene has been seeking more information from MNPS. This morning, Rutledge sent this statement by email:

— Two men in official-looking uniforms arrived at Una Elementary School, stating that they were government agents. They had official-looking IDs. — The men had a list of student names and demanded those students’ records. The staff reported that the men were intimidating and said they were entitled to see the records. — Una has a large number of students who come from immigrant families. — School officials denied the request and promptly sent the men away. Thinking the matter resolved, the Una officials moved on with the rest of their day. — The district has checked video files but they only go back a few weeks. — However, when the episode came up at a district meeting on Sept. 11, district leaders were alarmed enough to begin working on a way to make sure that all school staffs understood the need to take action the way they did at Una. — District leaders and Metro Legal conferred and drafted a memo to reinforce the district’s policy on keeping student records confidential, then distributed the memo to school principals across the district. — The district is very heartened to hear that ICE considers schools as safe zones.

Newly elected Mayor John Cooper announced yesterday that he was rescinding his predecessor David Briley's executive order aimed at reducing Metro cooperation with ICE. In rescinding the order, Cooper says he will set up a task force that “will be responsible for making recommendations for how Metro employees should interact with federal immigration authorities in a manner that: (1) respects the very separate roles of federal, state, and local governments, (2) complies with state and federal law, and (3) protects the safety and well-being of everyone in our immigrant communities.”