Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis speak with reporters in 2024. (by Marc Perrusquia)

This story was originally published by The Institute for Public Service Reporting Memphis.

Mayor Paul Young confirmed late Monday in a contentious town hall meeting with Hispanic residents that the Memphis Police Department is cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

His statements before a crowd of hundreds in East Memphis came as a remarkable development considering that city leaders for years had denied any collaboration between the police force and ICE.

Young said his aim in allowing the cooperation was to steer federal agents away from mass deportation and toward helping MPD investigate murders and other violent crimes.

If he fought the administration o

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