Tennessee Bill That Could Put Illegal Immigrants Who Commit Violent Crimes Behind Bars For Life Makes Progress In House

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes could be given life imprisonment if a Tennessee bill becomes law. 

House Bill 1872 (HB1872) sponsored by Representative Monty Fritts (R-Kingston-District 32) is on its way to the House Criminal Justice Committee after passing by a voice vote in a subcommittee yesterday.

The corresponding Senate Bill 2770 (SB2770) sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) was set to be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday but has been deferred for a week.

In addition to enhancement factors already prescribed under current Tennessee statute, if the bill becomes law it would give courts leeway to enhance the penalty for certain offenses up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if the defendant was in the country illegally when the crime was committed. 

The proposed law aims to deter those coming across the southern United States border from making their way to Tennessee with the intention to engage in drug or human trafficking, activities that lead to violent crime.

Unrelated to immigration status, the bill also enhances the penalty for violent crimes committed on school grounds, be it public, private, or a school of higher education.

In yesterday’s House Criminal Justice Subcommittee meeting, only Democrats appeared to be opposed to the bill.

The bill is scheduled to be heard next in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19th, 2024.

Anyone who wishes to express support or concerns for this legislation should contact committee members using the contact information below prior to that meeting next Tuesday.

Chair Todd Gardenhire (R) – sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6682

Sara Kyle (D) – sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4167

London Lamar (D) – sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2509

Jon Lundberg (R) – sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5761

Kerry Roberts (R) – sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4499

Paul Rose (R) – sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1967

John Stevens (R) – sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4576

Brent Taylor (R) – sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3036

Dawn White (R) – sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6853

sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov, sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jon.lundberg@capitol.tn.gov, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov, sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov, sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov, sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov, sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov 

As the bill moves forward on the House side, you may voice your support or opposition to the bill by contacting the members of the House Criminal Justice Committee listed below.

Chair Bud Hulsey (R) – rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2886

John Gillespie (R) – rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-8201

Michele Carringer (R) – rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1721

Elaine Davis (R) – rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2287

Clay Doggett (R) – rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7476

Andrew Farmer (R) – rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4419

Monty Fritts (R) – rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7658

Ronnie Glynn (D) – rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2043

G.A. Hardaway (D) – rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-5625

Dan Howell (R) – rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7799

Gloria Johnson (D) – rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2031

William Lamberth (R) – rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1980

Debra O. Moody (R) – rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3774

Lowell Russell (R) – rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-3736

Joe Towns, Jr. (D) – rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-2189

rep.bud.hulsey@capitol.tn.gov, rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov, rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov, rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.monty.fritts@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ronnie.glynn@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov, rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov, rep.debra.moody@capitol.tn.gov, rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov 

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. 

You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.