State Senators Respond to Biden’s New “Reckless” Immigration Bill

Photo: Republican Bill Hagerty, center, is joined by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., after Hagerty was named the winner of his race for U.S. Senate Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020, in Franklin, Tenn.

Photo Credit: George Walker IV / AP

Published February 22, 2021

Republican Tennessee legislators are working to defend citizenship for their constituents as Biden proposes new plans to the House. 

We previously covered the concept of “sanctuary cities” and their adaptation to 2nd Amendment rights across our state, but it more commonly refers to cities that choose not to abide by federal regulations for immigration. 

Local government entities and lawmakers in Tennessee do their best to uphold constitutional regulations, but have ultimately been elected to represent the desires of the people when said regulations infringe upon 10th Amendment protections. 

This may prove to be necessary action if Biden’s plan somehow makes it through the House and Senate. 

Biden’s bill would provide a faster path to citizenship for nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants.

The bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after only five years.

In an attempt to appease political correctness, the bill even bothers to change our language. The bill calls for changing the word “alien” to “noncitizen” in our immigration laws.

The legislation would allow immigrants with  family-sponsorship to join family in the United States while they wait for green cards to become available, essentially granting them citizenship. 

Included also is a “NO BAN Act” that prohibits discrimination based on religion and also increases Diversity Visas to 80,000 from 55,000.

Biden’s administration wants to give DHS authority to adjust green cards based on macroeconomic conditions, supposedly to prevent unfair competition with American workers.

Hidden further in the bill are long-term plans for investing in foreign aid. It codifies and funds the Biden’s $4 billion four-year project for increasing assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, to relieve poverty that causes people to flee their countries despite the number of American’s presently displaced by poverty at home.

Senator Blackburn tweeted in response to the announcement. 

“Biden’s immigration bill provides blanket amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. This reckless plan only puts American workers and our country’s security at risk.”

Senator Haggerty echoed concerns by releasing this statement:

“President Biden’s mass amnesty legislative proposal, coupled with his unilateral actions to dismantle border security, will encourage more illegal immigration and reduce opportunities for American workers during a pandemic-induced recession when so many are already struggling to find jobs. Why are we placing the interests of non-citizens over the interests of Americans?”

Customs and Border Protection documented an 86% increase in the number of illegal border crossings compared to the same time last year.

Immigration data analysts anticipate a massive surge of undocumented individuals entering the country in response to Biden’s administration. 

There are questions about how the administration will handle the tens of thousands of people who have been waiting in Mexico for asylum hearings as well paused by Trump. 

What this means for residents of Tennessee will continue to unfold and be determined by the success or failure of Biden’s bill, but at this time, majority representatives plan to do their best to protect citizenship.