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Article by Paula Gomes, Tennessee Conservative News –
An immigrants rights group who is suing the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) had their first day in federal court earlier this week.
Seven Tennesseans and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) allege that THP is in violation of state law, as well as the constitution of the United States, when conducting traffic stops of drivers suspected of being illegal aliens and allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from riding along with THP officers.
The lawsuit seeks to block THP from conducting such stops in cooperation with ICE.
U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger promised a quick ruling on whether or not the injunction will be granted against THP Col. Matt Perry.
In their suit, the plaintiffs claim that THP made stops based on the ethnic or racial appearance of motorists alone, and allowed ICE agents to then ask for proof of citizenship or legal status, which led to drivers being taken into custody.
TIRRC points to the Fourth Amendment’s right to protection from unlawful searches and seizures, and the Equal Protection Clause requiring law enforcement to treat everyone equally having been ignored during operations where THP collaborated with ICE, including Operation Flood the Zone during the spring of 2025.
Senior litigation counsel Mike Holley alleges that the operation, as well as others in Memphis, was “extreme” and targeted Hispanic individuals.
The state has argued that Perry declined to work with ICE on further operations and that Flood the Zone and operations in Memphis are different situations. THP and ICE are both involved with the Memphis Safe Task Force which includes 13 federal agencies as part of President Donald Trump’s directive to curb crime in the city.
While the plaintiffs allege that THP used its traffic stop authority to help ICE conduct “roving patrol[s],” something forbidden by the Supreme Court, state attorneys have argued that state troopers have engaged only in legal stops and that collaboration between THP and ICE keeps Tennesseans safer.
Were the injunction to be granted, THP would not be allowed to operate as a member of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
However, Judge Trauger ruled that TIRRC, during this stage of the litigation, had not made a “clear showing” that it was entitled to the requested injunction.
She wrote that TIRRC “had no likelihood of success” based on their claims, even if the court accepted that Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, in accordance with policy, are “pretextually pulling over non-White motorists in Memphis for the purpose of aiding ICE agents to investigate the motorists’ immigration status.”
Trauger stated that the Supreme Court precedent is clear – “a pretextual traffic stop supported by probable cause to believe a traffic violation has occurred does not violate the Fourth Amendment, irrespective of the arresting officers’ subjective intent.”
However, she did dismiss arguments by Tennessee State lawyers that TIRRC lacks the standing to pursue legal action and that it does have the right to sue on behalf of the organization’s members.
Sources:
TIRCC Press Release.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Responses
Seven Tennesseans and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition are enemies of our Republic, upholding illegality.
This is what I have been asking Republicans for many, many years….
The Left judge shops so why don’t you? It’s way too easy to tell folks, we are going to fight the radical Left. The Republicans then file a suit, without judge shopping, loose the case then throw up their hands and claim, “we tried.”
Democrats and Republicans, two feathers on the same bird.