Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill criminalizing illegal immigrants who have a final deportation order and are found in Tennessee passed along party lines in a 6 to 2 vote on Wednesday in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland-District 44), House Bill 1704 (HB1704), will be heard next in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, February 18th, 2026. (contact information can be found below.)
The legislation creates a Class A misdemeanor for anyone with a final deportation order who enters, or attempts to enter, the state or is found within Tennessee’s state lines.
Lamberth has said that Tennessee is collaborating with President Donald Trump’s administration to make the state “the nation’s leader” in combating illegal immigration.
But it is only recently, since the White House made it a priority, that state GOP lawmakers have begun to take the issue seriously.
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
