***Update 3.16.26 – House and Senate Committees will both hear this legislation on Tuesday, March 17th. Contact information for both committees can be found at the end of this article.
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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
A new Republican-sponsored bill entitled the “One America Act” would allow some illegal aliens to obtain a temporary visa and re-enter the country and state after an interview with Tennessee’s Department of Safety and a brief departure from the U.S.
Sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) and Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10), HB1925/SB2037 requires “every person” who has resided in the state for more than 30 days and is not “lawfully present” in the U.S. to register with the Tennessee Department of Safety and submit to an interview wherein the department will determine if the illegal alien is eligible to receive a “one-year visa for re-entry into the United States and to this state”.
The department must make a decision within 30 days of the interview, and if an individual is deemed eligible, they must leave the U.S. within 90 days of notification and only have to stay outside the country for 30 days before re-entry to the U.S. and Tennessee. Upon their return, so long as the alien does not commit a criminal offense within their one-year visa period they will be eligible to apply for a permanent resident card.
If an illegal immigrant is deemed ineligible for the re-entry visa, they must leave the U.S. within 30 days of being notified of their interview status.
The bill does not specify how the Department of Safety could possibly ensure that “every person” illegally present registers, why it only applies to illegals who have been in the state for more than a month, or what criteria the department would be using to determine eligibility for re-entry. Nor does it indicate how the state will enforce the provision requiring ineligible aliens to leave the country.
It is currently unclear if the “One America Act” is part of the slate of immigration legislation announced by Republican leadership under the advisement of White House policy advisor Stephen Miller last month, but conservatives will likely be unhappy with this bill as it does nothing to demagnetize the state to illegal immigrants. In fact, it could be perceived as the opposite, encouraging illegals to enter the state, remain for 30 days, and be easily granted access right back into the country.
And though they would technically be here legally after being awarded the visas, it does not solve any of the other problems related to illegal immigration like fiscal impacts, crime rates, or burden on the education system as these migrants would end up right back where they started, just with a government blessing and pathway to potentially obtaining more state benefits as legal residents.
Equally disconcerting is the sponsorship of the bill by Sen. Todd Gardenhire whose voting record shows him consistently taking pro-illegal immigration stances and publicly defending those positions, including his vote against a bill last year which would have allowed citizenship checks for school enrollment. For many, this automatically raises questions and concerns about the true intent and practicality of this legislation.
In recent polls conducted by mainstream media both Democrats and Republicans nationwide are supportive of mass deportations of all illegal aliens, regardless of “violent crime” status, and Republicans, including the late Charlie Kirk, are decrying a federal amnesty proposal entitled the “Dignity Act” being pushed by several Republicans in Congress.
Constituents can contact members of the House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee and Senate State and Local Government Committee to express thoughts on the legislation by using the information below:
Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov
rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee – HB1925 to be heard March 17
HB1925 would allow some illegal aliens to obtain a temporary visa and re-enter the country and state after an interview with Tennessee’s Department of Safety and a brief departure from the U.S.
Rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov; rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.michael.lankford@capitol.tn.gov; rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov; rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov; rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov
Sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Senate State and Local Government Committee – SB2037 to be heard March 17
SB2037 would allow some illegal aliens to obtain a temporary visa and re-enter the country and state after an interview with Tennessee’s Department of Safety and a brief departure from the U.S.
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov; sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov; sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov; sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov; sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov; sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
6 Responses
“Sponsored by Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61). . . .” Gino Bulso, my representative, one of the conservative icons of the legislature?!?!?! That “Gino Bulso”? Either there must be some mistake in the reporting, or Gino is suffering from that horrible flu that is going around and he is obviously delirious.
Assuming the latter, would all my fellow Brentwood conservatives please call Gino’s office [(615) 741-6808] and wish him a speedy recovery and suggest that when he feels up to it he should get his name off of that horrible piece of legislation.
Thanx! Emailed committees, Re. HB1925/SB2037 to Grant Illegal Aliens Opportunity To Legally Re-Enter Tennessee;
“PLEASE KILL this. We neither want nor need them here. Period.”
Let’s leave immigration issues to the Federal, not State, government. Anyone who is in this country illegally needs to leave. They can then apply for entry through regular channels and wait in li e like those who are applying legally.
I am so ashamed to have Todd Gardenhire as a senator in my district!!! This man is a total disgrace to Sequatchie County and the other three counties that are in his district. I have never voted for this guy and I never will. I hope we can get a candidate who has a backbone and can get Gardenhire voted out once and for all.
Thanx! Re-emailed committees, Re. HB1925/SB2037 to Grant Illegal Aliens Opportunity To Legally Re-Enter Tennessee;
“PLEASE KILL this. We neither want nor need them here. Period.”
They came into the country by breaking a law(s)….. got caught…. what makes you think they won’t break another/more laws to stay here or for other gains helping them stay??? Invite them back to screw us for more money you’ll give it to them right?? Are you an idiots Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood-District 61) and Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10)?? Yes, you are……….
SOOOOOOOO just invite them back to suck away more tax dollars… hell….it’s not your money right??? You can throw money at trying to appear “giving” with taxpayer money……right????