The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Local law enforcement in Tennessee now must verify the citizenship of a detainee and report to the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference if an individual is found to be in the country illegally.
Senate Bill 757 was signed Tuesday by Gov. Bill Lee and goes into effect July 1.
It is one of a pair of bills that Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, said will help the state sue the federal government over the costs of illegal immigration in Tennessee.
The other, House Bill 2774, was previously signed by Lee.
Senate Bill 757 requires local law enforcement to verify the citizenship of a detainee and report the individual to the DAGC if found to be illegally in the country.
Those arrested will need to supply a Social Security card or number, a Tennessee drivers’ license or photo identification, a green card or student visa, a valid passport, United States birth certificate or a certificate of naturalization.
A stipulation was put into the law allowing law enforcement to judge if an individual is a homeless resident of the United States without proper documentation.
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
