Crawford Introduces TN Bill To Deny Voting Rights For Illegal Immigrants (Update 2/23/22)
***Article Update 2/3/22 – HB2128 has gained a Senate Companion bill SB2245, sponsored by Sen. Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol-District 4). SB2245 has been introduced and was passed on First Consideration.***
Photo Credit: John Crawford – Facebook & Pixabay
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
On Monday, a bill was filed for introduction to the Tennessee General Assembly that would help to maintain the uprightness of Tennessee elections by banning all voting from non-U.S. citizens.
House Bill 2128 (HB2128), introduced by Representative John Crawford (R-Bristol/Kingsport-District 1), would prevent any person who is not a U.S. citizen from participating in any federal, state, or local election in Tennessee. It would also prohibit local governments in the state from allowing those who are not citizens to vote in any local election.
The bill also “prescribes various other mechanisms for ensuring the integrity of elections in this state.”
In addition, the bill aims to disqualify those in living in Tennessee illegally from participating in court juries.
The bill, if passed by both the Tennessee House and Senate and then signed by Governor Lee would go into effect immediately.
This new proposed legislation joins a number of other bills that also target illegal immigration.
Earlier in this legislative session, Representative Bruce Griffey introduced House Bill 1648, which would give public schools the right to refuse to enroll students who were determined to have illegally entered the country.
It would also allow the state to deny funding for those students. If school districts choose to enroll those students who are “unlawfully present in the United States,” they would be held financially responsible for all expenses associated with those children.
Griffey says that the financial burden of educating those who are not here legally should not fall on Tennessee’s citizens.
“Tennesseans should not have to be paying hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses resulting from criminal acts to which the federal government is turning a blind eye,” Griffey said.
HB1648 has been assigned to the House K-12 subcommittee.
*** Click Here to Support Conservative Journalism in Tennessee. We can’t cover stories like this without your support! ***
Griffey also filed House Bill 1994, which proposes that all illegal immigrants in Tennessee be removed and relocated to the home states of President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
“It is incumbent upon Tennessee legislators to protect Tennesseans from the harms of illegal immigration and bad federal policies. We must fight back and that’s what I’m trying to do! Tennessee should not be a repository for people coming from all over the world illegally through the southern border and landing in our state. We must focus on Tennessee citizens first – what’s best for them – instead of facilitating Biden’s reckless policies,” said Griffey.
Illegal immigration has continued to be a primary focus for many Tennessee voters and has been at the forefront of many of the bills introduced by Representative Griffey during his four years as a Tennessee state representative.
“Illegal immigration is just that – illegal – and I have a responsibility to my constituents to call for the enforcement of the law. We need law and order! In my opinion, we have lawlessness that is intentionally being allowed to happen to benefit powerful, entrenched, wealthy corporate interests, who want cheap labor at the expense of national security, safe communities, and low-wage labor markets. If Tennessee bands together with Governor DeSantis and Florida and other states follow suit, we might actually be able to effect change,” Griffey stated.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
I applaud Representative Crawford for looking after Tennesseans, Illegals should not have any benefits including free housing and welfare checks,
Amen, “I applaud Representative Crawford for looking after Tennesseans, Illegals should not have any benefits including free housing and welfare checks,…” Thanks, Monica Potts, I could not have said it better myself. Good, Old Immigration Laws, circa 1950, “read, write and speak English..” to apply for Legal Immigration and QUOTAS were always observed. NO DUAL CITIZENSHIP – circa 1960, Ohio Public School Civics book, “If you claimed DUAL CITIZENSHIP you would be IMMEDIATELY DEPORTED. American Citizenship is a High Privileged. For God & Country
He’s on the right track but it remains to be seen if enough other legislators are on board to protect Tn. citizens.
It is so sad to have to introduce a bill like this? No brainer, If one is not a citizen you are not allowed to vote. Or another thought if a illegal immigrant does come to vote have ICE arrest and deport!!