The Tennessee legislature is considering a broad immigration law during its special session, but not without public participation, which prompted state troopers to forcibly remove audience members on Wednesday.
Gov. Bill Lee included immigration in the special call, shocking some members of leadership with his desire to address the issue swiftly. Gov. Lee stated that he wants to make immigration a major issue immediately after President Donald Trump entered office.
The nonprofit organization The Remix Tennessee stated that Tennessee has around 400,000 unauthorized residents. They contended that deporting them would raise costs, hurt employment, and harm the economy.
Here is a breakdown of what legislators have contributed.
The Immigration Enforcement Division
Governor Lee will select a Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer to lead the proposed Immigration Enforcement Division within the Tennessee Department of Safety.
This would essentially create a Tennessee border czar to act as a federal liaison between the Trump administration and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would empower the state and the US Attorney General to reach an agreement on the enforcement of federal immigration laws, custody and removals, and investigations in the state. We refer to that as the 287 G Agreement.
The department would only exist during the Trump presidency. According to the measure, it would “sunset” or expire after the conclusion of the Trump presidency. If the department survives after 2028, legislators must renew it.
According to the design, the new section would only employ four people, including the border czar, who will make $231,401.
The agency will cost the state approximately $1.4 million per year, according to the budget note.
State grants for immigration agreements
This Article Includes
The bill would enable state grant funds to incentivize local law enforcement agencies to also engage in 287 G agreements. Participation by local agencies is not mandatory.
Although the bill does not mandate the approval of city councils and county commissions, it still leaves room for their participation.
The state would need to allocate $5 million in the upcoming year’s budget for this expense. The exact amount for future years remains uncertain.
Enhanced punishment for “sanctuary cities”
Tennessee prohibits the establishment of sanctuary cities under state law.
During the House Finance Committee hearing, there was a heated debate surrounding the bill. One of the main points of contention was the provision that would grant the Tennessee Attorney General the power to remove elected leaders who violate the state’s existing ban. Representative Antonio Parkinson, a Democrat from Memphis, expressed his concern, stating that it should not be considered illegal or felonious for an elected official to cast a vote.
“Voting to establish a sanctuary city is just that, we’re not going to have that in the state of Tennessee,” replied Rep. William Lamberth, a Portland Republican.
Tennessee law already prohibits sanctuary cities.
State ID changes for non-citizens
Only American citizens or lawful residents would be eligible to obtain a Tennessee ID, according to the bill.
Lawmakers have taken steps to prevent non-U.S. citizens from registering to vote by introducing a new marker on licenses specifically for this purpose. This additional marker will assist in distinguishing between citizens and non-citizens on official documents.
Lawmakers did not specify the extent of the problem in the state. However, during the summer, the Secretary of State’s office created controversy by requesting 14,375 registered voters to provide proof of citizenship before the 2024 election. The office later clarified that they would not remove voters from the rolls if they did not respond.
The Secretary of State’s office compared Tennessee’s voter roles with data from the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which is responsible for issuing driver’s licenses. When residents, who were American citizens, received the letter, many of them expressed their frustration to NewsChannel 5. They found it particularly concerning since they had been U.S. citizens for over ten years.
Renewing licenses would now require individuals to provide proof of citizenship under the new law.
Audience members removed out of committee
The public was captivated by the language of the immigration bill during the House committee proceedings on Wednesday morning.
During the lawmaker discussion, audience members expressed their enthusiasm by snapping their fingers and even becoming vocal at certain points. However, an outburst occurred later, which prompted Chairman Chris Todd, R-Jackson, to request the assistance of state troopers in removing those who were causing a disturbance. As they were being carried out, a grandmother defiantly exclaimed, “I did nothing wrong or illegal. It’s all on the tape, everyone saw it. We hadn’t said anything and we hadn’t broken any rules.”
Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, a United Methodist minister and a regular attendee at the state capitol, filled the air with her melodious voice as she was escorted out. With heartfelt conviction, she sang, “Black and white united, we stand strong and resolute, like a firmly-rooted tree by the water’s edge, we shall not be swayed.”
During Tuesday’s education committee meeting, the chairperson emphasized the importance of maintaining a respectful atmosphere by discouraging snapping, vocalization, and outlined guidelines for audience members to engage with their paper signs.
No individuals from the audience were expelled from education committees.
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