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.