Tennessee GOP Introduces Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

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In a move set to intensify Tennessee’s stance on immigration, state Republicans unveiled a suite of proposals on Thursday, calling on local governments to assume greater responsibilities in immigration enforcement. These proposals span a variety of domains, including education, law enforcement, and vehicle registration, signaling a comprehensive approach to addressing immigration issues at the state level.

One of the key figures advocating for these changes, Speaker of the Tennessee House, Cameron Sexton, highlighted the financial burden attributed to illegal immigration. “Currently, the estimate is close to $1 billion of taxpayer money goes to illegal immigration in Tennessee across all different sectors,” Sexton noted. He posed the critical question of cost-effectiveness, asking, “How much has it been costing, and how much can we save?”

Among the proposed measures, a significant change would require county clerks to verify an individual’s citizenship status before proceeding with vehicle registrations. This step underscores the broader push to involve local authorities more directly in immigration matters, aligning with the state’s fiscal and administrative objectives.

The initiative also appears to be receiving backing from the highest levels of government, as Tennessee Republicans are reportedly collaborating with the White House on these legislative efforts, potentially paving the way for more synchronized federal and state immigration policies.

Nexstar’s News 2 reached out to county clerks across Middle Tennessee to ask how much this would cost. None could comment, but others say they have concerns over the potential burden.

“They’re putting a lot of burden on local governments who are already cash-strapped, and they’re expecting local governments to be able to pay for any number of services that should be performed at the federal level,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons.

In addition, the legislation would require schools to verify students’ immigration statuses.

“I mean, really, what they’re trying to do is create a surveillance state; this is all about big government keeping an eye on all of Tennessee families,” Clemmons added. “This should really disturb every Tennessean who may be required to carry their identification papers.”

Yet, those who announced the new legislation feel it’s key to protecting benefits for Tennesseans.

“Making sure that if you need benefits and you need resources and you need this, that Tennesseans have access to it and not someone here illegally is using your benefits that you could use,” Sexton said.

The legislation also calls for increased cooperation between law enforcement and ICE. On Thursday, residents spoke out about their concerns after their sheriff entered into a 287G agreement. So far in Tennessee, 59 agencies have entered into that agreement.

“All of this in an increasing surge after the brazen murder of an American citizen in broad daylight. This is the organization that the county is still in a voluntary agreement with,” said Jacob Jones, a Rutherford County resident.

Those behind the legislation say cities that don’t comply could lose shared sales tax revenue.

“We want to make sure whatever we do, we’re protecting Tennesseans, Tennessee families, tax dollars, preserving the legal immigration way into our state,” Sexton expressed.