Human Smuggling Bill To Address Illegal Immigration Passes Tennessee Senate

Image Credit: Adelia Kirchner / The Tennessee Conservative

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

A bill creating the offenses of human smuggling, harboring or hiding, and assisting another in harboring or hiding illegal immigrants that are known to have illegally entered or remained in the country passed the Tennessee Senate by a 25-6 vote on Wednesday. 

Senate Bill 392 (SB0392), sponsored by Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31), would create strong penalties for the crime of “human smuggling,” defined as transporting, encouraging, or inducing an individual to either illegally enter the state or to remain in Tennessee through the act of “concealing, harboring, or shielding.”

According to the bill sponsors this legislation:

• Gives the Attorney General (AG) more tools to combat human trafficking. If the AG suspects that a business or individual is involved in human trafficking, they can obtain a court order to stop the activity, shut the business down completely, or appoint a receiver for the business.
• Creates a new crime of “human smuggling” for when somebody knowingly moves or hides illegal immigrants. This would be a Class E Felony. Smuggling a child under 13-years of age would be “aggravated human smuggling” which would be a Class A Felony.
• Cracks down on hiding illegal immigrants by making it a Class A Misdemeanor to hide or help hide illegal individuals from authorities.

On the Senate floor, Republicans Paul Bailey, Janice Bowling, Richard Briggs, Rusty Crowe, Ferrell Haile, Bobby Harshbarger, Tom Hatcher, Joey Hensley, Ed Jackson, Jack Johnson, Adam Lowe, Becky Massey, Mark Pody, Bill Powers, Shane Reeves, Kerry Roberts, Paul Rose, Jessie Seal, Steve Southerland, Brent Taylor, Page Walley, Bo Watson, Dawn White, Ken Yager and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally voted in favor of the bill.

Democrats Raumesh Akbari, Heidi Campbell, Sara Kyle, London Lamar, Charlane Oliver and Jeff Yarbro voted against it.

The corresponding House Bill 322 (HB0322), carried by Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73), was placed “behind the budget” earlier this week.

Illegal Immigration Bills Placed Behind Gov. Lee’s Budget, Future Uncertain As Legislature Wraps Up For The Year

A bill is placed “behind the budget” when there is a cost associated with the bill that has not been covered by the governor’s proposed budget for the year.

However, legislation can come back out from behind the budget if the bill sponsors are able to obtain funding for it which is rumored to be the case with SB0392/HB0322.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. Adelia is The Tennessee Conservative’s on-site reporter for the Tennessee General Assembly. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.