Hegseth, Bondi in Memphis as federal crackdown yields 53 arrests
Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi arrived in Memphis as the "Memphis Safe Task Force" — a multi‑agency federal‑state operation involving the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, immigration and drug‑enforcement personnel alongside Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and National Guard members in support roles — began operating from mobile command centers. Officials say the phased crackdown, in which more than 200 officers were reportedly deputized and Guard troops are to be unarmed and not make arrests unless requested, has yielded at least 53 arrests and the seizure of roughly 20 illegal firearms, with authorities planning periodic updates.
Law Enforcement
Politics
Public Safety
Crime
🔍 Key Facts
- The operation, called the "Memphis Safe Task Force," is a multiagency federal surge in Memphis involving personnel from about 13 federal agencies — including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals and immigration agents — working with state partners.
- Governor Bill Lee and Memphis officials coordinated the deployment; federal agents were expected to begin arriving the following week and the operation will run in phases over the coming weeks and months, with a city website and staging area (including U.S. Marshals and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation mobile command centers) established for updates and logistics.
- Tennessee is providing security support: an estimated ~150 National Guard members (mostly Tennessee military police) will be deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service to serve in support roles and — officials say — will not make arrests or be armed unless local law enforcement requests it; Guardsmen will wear standard uniforms (no masks) and "armored tanks will not be a resource used in this mission."
- State and local law-enforcement participation includes roughly 300 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers and more than 200 officers who have been deputized to the task force, with federal and state agents teaming to serve warrants and conduct traffic stops.
- Officials announced enforcement results as the operation began: Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials said the task force made about 53 arrests (reported as at least 53 since Monday) and seized 20 illegal firearms over a two-day period; the U.S. Marshals Service says it will provide periodic public updates on arrest numbers, charges and participating agencies.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi traveled to Memphis to oversee and publicly tout the operation (Bondi was reported expected to visit on Wednesday; on-scene video confirmed their arrival).
- Tennessee pledged additional resources for Memphis, including roughly $100 million in public-safety grants, while local leaders — including Mayor Paul Young — acknowledged community concerns and suggested some task-force work focus on beautification and homelessness services amid warnings from former local police officials about possible economic or tourism impacts.
📍 Contextual Background
- A crime statistician testified that rates of murder and violent crime were falling nationwide and in Charlotte after increases early in the 2020s (as of 2025-09-29).
📰 Sources (9)
Hegseth, Bondi arrive in Memphis to oversee federal crackdown on crime
New information:
- CBS reports at least 53 arrests in Memphis since Monday (updated arrest count).
- On‑scene CBS video confirms Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi have arrived in Memphis to oversee the federal operation.
- CBS correspondent Nicole Valdes filed the video report.
WATCH: Bondi discusses federal law enforcement task force deployment to Memphis
New information:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi met with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee in Memphis as the task force began operating.
- Bondi posted that the Memphis Safe Task Force made 'more than 50 arrests' over a two‑day period (reported by AP/PBS).
- More than 200 officers were deputized to the task force, according to Bondi's statement.
- Mobile command centers for the U.S. Marshals Service and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation were set up at a staging area.
- Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Ryan Guay said (via email) that the Marshals Service will release periodic updates with arrest numbers, charges and participating agencies.
- Agents involved include immigration and drug‑enforcement personnel teaming with state agencies such as the Tennessee Highway Patrol to serve warrants and conduct traffic stops.
- Governor Lee said he does not expect more than 150 National Guard members to be sent and that troops would not be armed or make arrests unless requested by local authorities.
Trump administration touts Memphis task force, Bondi expected to visit city
New information:
- Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly touted that the Memphis task force made 53 arrests.
- Bondi said the operation seized 20 illegal firearms.
- Bondi is expected to visit Memphis on Wednesday (near-term official visit).
Things to know about federal law enforcement activity in Chicago, Portland, Memphis
New information:
- Reports Memphis officials expect arrival this week of additional federal authorities including immigration and drug enforcement agents and cites Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s public expectation.
- Places the Memphis preparations in the same weekend context as federal actions in Chicago and Portland, underscoring a coordinated surge in multiple cities.
What to know about the National Guard and federal agencies coming to Memphis
New information:
- Gov. Bill Lee gave a preliminary estimate of about 150 National Guard members (caveated as not finalized).
- The article compares Memphis and Washington, D.C., with concrete population and area figures (Memphis ~611,000 across ~300 sq mi; Washington ~702,000 across ~68 sq mi) to show operational differences.
- Quotes from former Memphis police commander Thaddeus Johnson warning about possible economic/tourism impacts, and from Memphis Mayor Paul Young advocating beautification and homelessness services as missions for the task force.
- Lee said most Guard members would be Tennessee military police and reiterated Guard members won't make arrests and won't be armed unless local authorities request it.
- State committed another $100 million in public‑safety grants for Memphis; federal officers from FBI, DEA and ATF will start arriving next week.
An influx of federal agents will arrive in Memphis next week, governor says
New information:
- The operation will include personnel from 13 federal agencies (article names FBI, DEA, ATF among them).
- 300 troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol will be part of the deployment.
- Gov. Bill Lee said the National Guard will serve in support roles and 'will not be armed unless it is requested by local law enforcement'; the operation will proceed in phases over 'the next weeks and months.'
- Memphis city government launched a website to provide updates about the incoming federal resources; Mayor Paul Young provided on‑the‑record remarks recognizing community concerns.
More federal agents will join fight against crime in Memphis next week, Tennessee governor says
New information:
- Governor Bill Lee said the surge includes 13 federal agencies and state troopers and will operate under a 'Memphis Safe Task Force'.
- National Guard troops from Tennessee will be deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service and 'will not make arrests' and 'will not be armed unless local law enforcement requests it.'
- Officials said agents from the FBI, ATF and DEA will arrive next week; the governor indicated he expects no more than roughly 150 Guard members though the number remains in planning.
- Operational notes: Guardsmen will wear standard uniforms (no masks) and 'armored tanks will not be a resource used in this mission.'
Federal Agents Heading to Memphis as Part of Trump’s Crime Crackdown
New information:
- Federal agencies involved: FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, ATF, and U.S. Marshals
- Location and timing: Memphis, Tennessee — agents expected to arrive 'next week' (per Gov. Bill Lee)
- Coordination: Gov. Bill Lee said the city and state have been planning the deployment with federal officials for several months as part of the administration’s crime initiative
Tennessee governor says more federal agents to join fight against crime in Memphis
New information:
- Gov. Bill Lee said Tennessee National Guard troops will be deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service to support local law enforcement.
- Lee said the Guard 'will not make arrests and will not be armed unless local law enforcement officials request it' and that Guardsmen will be in standard uniforms and not masked; 'armored tanks will not be a resource used in this mission.'
- Officials said FBI, ATF and DEA agents will arrive next week and the surge will operate in phases under the 'Memphis Safe Task Force.'
- Governor reiterated the Guard contingent is expected to be small (he previously said he didn’t think there would be more than 150 troops) and that no state of emergency will be declared.