Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed a bill Thursday that requires local law enforcement agencies to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities. Associated Press report.
While other Democratic-controlled cities and states across the country have chosen to continue implementing so-called “sanctuary” policies that prohibit local and state police from working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Tennessee The state adopted new measures requiring contact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Federal agency.
Lee signs the law House Bill 2124This includes “reporting to law enforcement agencies and officials knowledge that a particular alien is not lawfully present in the United States, or cooperating with appropriate federal officials in verifying the identity of an individual.” “Requires the arrest, detention, or removal of an alien not lawfully present in the United States with the appropriate federal official regarding their immigration status.” ”
This measure also guarantees certain protections for victims and witnesses. The law “prohibits law enforcement from contacting federal immigration officials regarding the immigration status of individuals who are victims of criminal activity or who witness potential criminal activity.”
Previous state law allowed law enforcement officers to contact federal authorities, but did not require them to do so. But the Tennessee Police Chiefs Association and Tennessee Sheriffs Association said “all law enforcement agencies” were already coordinating with federal authorities.
The new measures will come into effect from July 1st.
“When there is an interaction with law enforcement, it is important to notify the appropriate authorities of the individual’s situation,” Lee said Thursday. “I think that makes sense. So I support that bill.”
The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition argued the bill was too broad.
Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of TIRRC and TIRRC Vote, said the governor “has listened to the warnings of police chiefs, educators, domestic violence victim advocates, and legal experts and has implemented this misguided bill. “We could have prevented the enactment of the law,” he said.
“Instead, we have rubber-stamped the state legislature’s continued descent into authoritarianism and green-lighted legislation that could pave the way for racial profiling, illegal detention, and family separation,” she added.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Brent Taylor, disputed claims that the bill would encourage racial profiling.
“This isn’t like cornering someone who looks Hispanic, grabbing them and demanding their documents,” he said.
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