Legislation Authorizing Local Law Enforcement To Enforce Federal Immigration Laws In TN Fails In Senate Committee

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Legislation that would have given local law enforcement the authority to enforce federal law and arrest anyone transporting, harboring or facilitating the transport of illegal aliens into Tennessee was scheduled to be heard by both House and Senate Committees yesterday. The Senate version of the bill failed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House version was taken off notice in the Criminal Justice Committee later.

The House bill sponsor, Representative Dennis Powers, previously told the Tennessee Conservative, “We have had flights arriving in the middle of the night in Knoxville and Chattanooga and then transporting those illegal aliens throughout our state and we have seen illegal aliens housed in the former Temple University in Chattanooga.  We do not know who these people are or where they are going.  We cannot arrest the illegals because that is the job of the federal government (which they are not doing), but we can arrest those who are transporting them, whether it be a van driver or a pilot landing in our state under Title 8 U.S.C. $ 1324 (a). That is what my bill is about, plus it also develops training on how to enforce the federal law regarding transporting illegal aliens into our state.  The intent of this bill is to be a deterrent to anyone who wants to bring illegal aliens into our state and our hope is that Congress will one day address the issue of illegals coming into our state and enforce the current federal laws.”

Senate Bill 2264 (SB2264) was up first in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Representative Dennis Powers (R-Jacksboro-District 36), sponsor of the companion House Bill 2222 (HB2222) testified before the committee, saying that the bill would not be needed if “the federal government was doing their job.”

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Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10) appeared to take issue with Rep. Powers claim that illegal aliens had been flown into Chattanooga and Knoxville, asking several times about federal programs that allowed this under President Trump’s administration. These programs, said Powers, were nullified soon after President Biden took office and are no longer in effect. 

Gardenhire supported the reopening of La Casa de Sydney, a group home for migrant children in Chattanooga that was closed last year after employees were arrested for sexual battery against children in their care.

Elizabeth Stroecker from the Department of Safety spoke against the bill saying that even if Tennessee police officers were trained to make arrests of those transporting illegal aliens, they would not be allowed to actually make arrests because they are currently prohibited from enforcing federal laws.

Senate Bill sponsor Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains-District 8) said that putting the ability for Tennessee law enforcement to make such arrests into Tennessee Code would make it Tennessee law.

The bill ultimately failed with 5 nays to 4 ayes. Three Republican Senators voted no: Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-District 9) Bell, Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon-District 24) and Senator Gardenhire.

The House version of the bill was later taken off notice when it came up in the Criminal Justice Committee.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.