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The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
The Tennessee Conservative contacted every GOP member of the Tennessee General Assembly to ask about their legislative intentions to prevent illegal immigration in the state. We also asked our readers to contact their local representatives with a similar question and are very grateful for the enthusiasm and persistence utilized in getting the answers due to the citizens of our state.
In our press request, The Tennessee Conservative queried legislators, “Will you or anyone you know be proposing such a bill [to prevent illegal immigration]? If so, will it have the support of leadership and what are the details,” while constituents asked their representatives even more specifically, “Will you or anyone you know be proposing any preventative measures to stop the mass transportation, tax-payer funded education, welfare benefits and/or jobs that draw illegal aliens to our state like a magnet?”
The majority of the legislators did not respond to either inquiry but those who did are featured below.
Though several pieces of legislation were mentioned, three passed last session were a featured talking point in numerous responses.
• HB2124 requires law enforcement to notify federal authorities when they encounter illegals.
• HB2190 authorized the Governor to deploy the National Guard to the border by declaring an invasion.
• HB1872/SB2770 allows for the enhancement of penalties for illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes.
• Many also referenced Tennessee’s sanctuary city ban, which was initially passed in 2018 and “strengthened” this year.
Some declined to respond as they are retiring from the legislature and advised constituents to instead reach out to the candidates vying to fill their seats while others, like Representatives Jason Zachary (R- Dist. 14) & Susan Lynn (R-Dist. 57) offered canned responses, generically supportive of a secure border and legal immigration.
Several legislators seemed to pin the majority of responsibility upon the federal government, though some were able to cite examples of how they are attempting to combat federal negligence.
Rep. Monty Fritts (R-Dist. 32) shares this position stating, “Unfortunately, the primary responsibility for maintaining the security of our borders belongs to the federal government,” but continued with several examples of legislation he filed or sponsored to strengthen Tennessee’s immigration stance. He referenced HB1872 (increased penalties) and HB2190 (National Guard deployment), and a third bill which was killed in the Senate that would have developed an informational data base about illegals in Tennessee. Fritts concludes, “This office worked hard to protect our citizens this past year and I will continue to do all I can in this area. Unfortunately, many in elected office do not see this matter as the existential threat that I recognize it to be.”
Rep. William Lamberth (R-Dist.44) concurs, “What we really need is a President who will seal the border and answer the phone at ICE whenever local enforcement arrests an illegal immigrant. In [25] days hopefully we will get some help at the federal level. If not, then we will do everything we can to wage this war.”
Senator Richard Briggs (R-Dist. 7) believes that ultimately the legislature, “may have passed about all we can at the state level,” referencing Tennessee’s policies banning sanctuary cities and the supposed inability of aliens to receive welfare, TennCare, or social security. He also implies that responsibility lies with American people and businesses, claiming that though the legislature “regards illegal immigration as one of the top two issues facing the state,” illegals coming here to work is “more of a problem with American employers hiring them for work Americans will not do. Frankly, we need stiffer penalties on American employers and business owners who knowingly hire them. The biggest problem I see in enforcing Tennessee laws are business owners who want cheap labor.”
Rep. Kevin Raper (R- Dist. 24) responded, “All of the Republicans in Nashville are extremely concerned about this issue. We have passed several laws pertaining to illegal immigration. The most significant one is it is a violation of State law to have sanctuary cities. Memphis is in violation of this law. They are in grave danger of losing large amounts of State funds. We currently are trying to do anything possible that does not violate Federal law or Constitutional rights. We have this issue before the State Attorney General giving us advice. No matter how great the idea may be, it must stand up in a court of law or we are wasting time and money. I have the same concerns as you.”
Sen. Paul Bailey (R.- Dist.15) states, “I understand the frustration our country is facing, and we are working with several local, state and federal offices to tackle this issue,” then proceeded to list several immigration bills not killed in committee or deferred for which he voted in favor.
Though no responses from Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally or Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton were received, the Press Secretary for the Senate Republican Caucus, Molly Gormley, reached out to The Tennessee Conservative to provide a statement on behalf of Senate Republicans.
It read, “Tennessee does not tolerate or overlook illegal immigration. Tennessee Republican lawmakers have a strong track record of passing laws to crack down on illegal immigration and protect Tennessee communities. While other states like California are welcoming illegal immigrants and loosening laws, Tennessee is pushing back and tightening laws. Our state’s laws send a clear message to illegal immigrants: do not come to Tennessee. Unfortunately, the federal government has continually failed to do its job to address illegal immigration, and much of the responsibility has fallen to the states. Regardless, Tennessee Republican lawmakers will rise to the occasion, as they always have, to protect Tennessee from illegal immigration.”
She then listed the highlights of these efforts including the sanctuary city ban, sending of the National Guard to the border, and two laws, Public Chapter 1008 & Public Chapter 998 she states will, “strengthen the state’s standing to sue the federal government over the costs of illegal immigrants to Tennessee’s taxpayers.”
A few appear to believe the problem has been solved with the current laws.
Senator Page Walley (R-Dist. 26) simply claimed, “We in Tennessee have already prevented [this] in Tennessee. We have been a vanguard for this nation. More should emulate us.”
Rep. Ron Grant (R- Dist. 94) feels, “it is worth highlighting the fact that Tennessee has always been a national leader when it comes to fighting back at the state level against federal immigration policies,” then proceeds to list several bills passed, including the sanctuary city ban, HB2124, HB2190, and HB1872 that he believes deal “directly with the illegal immigration problem at the state level.”
Some concurred illegal immigration is a problem but made no mention of any intent to present or support legislation on the topic.
Senator Shane Reeves (R-Dist.14) stated, “Yes, part of my campaign platform is finding ways to prevent illegal immigrants from coming to Tennessee. I would like to find as many deterrents as possible- that stand up to constitutional scrutiny- to do exactly that.”
Rep. Lowell Russell (R-Dist. 21) agrees, “Preventing illegal immigrants from coming to Tennessee is a priority. We have passed legislation in recent years that hopefully deters illegals from coming to Tennessee, but we have more work to do.”
On a positive note, a select few expressed their intentions to carry bills designed confronting illegal immigration.
Rep. Gino Bulso (R- Dist. 61) responded, “I do plan to run another bill to combat illegal immigration. We passed HB1907 earlier this year, but obviously there is much more that we can do.” Bulso will be providing The Tennessee Conservative with further details about his plan during an upcoming interview.
Sen. Bo Watson (R- Dist. 11) is, “working on legislation around the employment side of the immigration issue to tighten up current laws and prevent employment as being one of the reasons for someone to enter the US illegally and move to Tennessee. I expect there will be additional legislation filed by other members as immigration has been a central issue in the presidential campaign. States are learning that they can have a role when it comes to fighting illegal immigration. I work hard to get the support of leadership on every piece of legislation that I file.”
Others, like Rep. Bud Hulsey (R-Dist.2), do not have a definitive plan to carry legislation this session but are supportive of any efforts to keep illegals out of the state.
Rep. Bryan Terry (R. Dist. 48) said, “Over the years, I have supported and co-sponsored legislation to tighten up E-verify and have been strongly opposed to in-state tuition or licenses for illegal immigrants. I will continue to be supportive of any measures to demagnetize Tennessee from illegal immigration.”
Sen. Janice Bowling (R. Dist. 16) carried SB2770 last session which compounds the sentencing for any illegal committing a felony in the state, immediately making it a second offense, being here illegally the first. She says, “The federal government has made all states border states. We are due major change at the federal level.”
Sen. Dawn White (R-Dist. 13) replied, “I previously sponsored a resolution urging the federal government to fund the construction of the border wall, and I served as chair of a study committee on refugee issues in 2021. As a result of the work of this committee, I sponsored legislation to place tight restrictions on organizations housing illegal immigrant minors, which helped to remove one of these organizations from this state. I will continue to fight against illegal immigration on the state level. I am confident the General Assembly will be looking into new avenues to address immigration in our state during the upcoming session.”
Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Dist. 31) spoke to his efforts at the county level. “Last year I authored and passed a law that required local law enforcement to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement when an illegal alien is arrested for a crime. I have been working to Make Memphis Matter so we can get our crime down. One crime committed by someone who should not be in our community is one crime too many. You don’t have to be Einstein’s cousin to know that we have enough criminals in Shelby County and Tennessee, and we shouldn’t be importing more. I will be looking closely at other opportunities to pass laws that discourage illegal aliens from moving to our state and Shelby County. I have a duty to pass legislation that discourages illegal aliens from moving to our state. After all, even Heaven has an immigration policy!”
Overall, many of the responses did not express a plan to address illegal immigration further and failed to address killed pieces of legislation, like one that would have disallowed commercial airlines to transport aliens to Tennessee, or the governor’s many subversive immigration policies, but purported that the state has done all it can.
The Tennessee Conservative will continue to press our lawmakers on this issue as it is one of the biggest threats to our state and nation.
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.
9 Responses
Thank you!
I have endeavored and dedicated my life to teaching the people how to properly be heard in our legislative houses by exercising the rights in Article I, Section 23.
If I am elected to the Senate, here is what I propose to address the issue of illegal immigration;
1) Pass legislation making it a misdemeanor crime for drivers/pilots of commercial carriers to transport illegal immigrants into the state of Tennessee. That crime would be subject to $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail first offense.
a. Common carriers would also be subject to fine.
2) Post large signs at the Tennessee Interstate borders (Interstate 65 and Interstate 40), “Welcome to Tennessee – it is unlawful for commercial carrier drivers to transport illegal immigrants into the State of Tennessee subject to $1,000 fine and 30 days jail.
3) Include in the legislation, that commercial carrier buses are required to stop at truck weigh stations for inspection for illegal immigrants.
4) Inbound flights from certain departure locations are directed to go through customs, same as incoming international flights.
Probably, my legislation would get killed in sub-committee and never make it to the floor.
A remonstrance, signed by thousands of citizens, demanding the same laws I’ve described above would not go first to committee; it would go straight to the floor, then to committee, and then back to the floor. The people’s business is the first order of business for our legislative houses and it always goes straight to the floor
Most are expert wafflers.
No mention in this article at all about E-Verify. One obvious reason that Tennessee is a magnet for illegal immigrants is that we do not have a statewide E-Verify law. Illegal immigrants get this info from the cartels at the border and, I dare say, from those hired to inform them that they can get jobs in Tennessee. Too many employers, many of whom are major contributors to our legislators, are very happy with the cheap labor from the border. I won’t believe that the General Assembly is REALLY concerned about the flow of illegal immigrants into Tennessee until E-Verify becomes a state law for all businesses with greater than 50 employees. As usual, follow the money.
Everything in fine? Then why do I read about illegal alien crime every day in a new app?? Why did that scumbag illegal alien truck driver out of Illinois, drive down I65 DRUNK & AGGRESSIVE?? Almost causing massive chairs and loss of life??
Illegal aliens are EVERYWHERE in Nashville. Everywhere. None of them know how to drive and do not have insurance and ALWAYS drive off.
I’m SICK OF IT.
Causing CHAOS not CHAIRS
Richard Briggs (R-Pfizer): “Frankly, we need stiffer penalties on American employers and business owners who knowingly hire them.”
Take a look at Hamblen County Schools. The state will do nothing but keep employing more ESL teachers for the illegals in the public school system. Lockdown Lee’s “parental freedom” voucher plan does not have the money following the student that leaves the public school but instead taxes us with all new expenditures for the vouchers – along with more spending for pay and benefits for the public school system – that theoretically would have less students. Jack Johnson and Adam Lowe in an interview with Heartland Journal stated it’s the federal law that we Tennesseans must have our homes and purchases taxed to give “free” $13,000/year public education to illegals and there’s nothing we can do about it. They won’t address a property tax cap or limits on the inflation. The public school system is consuming 50% or better of your property taxes if you are in a smaller county. It is only the federal portion of the funding that demands this welfare system for illegals, but the longer a school system imports them, the more they become reliant on the federal portion of funding. The federal incentives for public schools are that the students be non-white and/or economically disadvantaged and/or special education (which includes psychotropic meds). I.e., the more illegals you have, the more money per student you get.
Hamblen County data (from TN Report card site): Overall student population is 33% hispanic for the entire county. If you eliminate the schools outside the city of Morristown (Alpha, Whitesburg and Russellville), it increases to 42% hispanic. There are five schools in Morristown that are already between 50 and 68% hispanic: Fairview Marguerite 68%, Alternative school 63%, Hillcrest Elem 57%, Lincoln Heights Elem 50%, Meadowview Middle 58%. Are they all illegals? Probably not. But it sure isn’t “natural migration” that has flooded Morristown. Go up and down Cumberland Ave./Buffalo Trail in Morristown – do it on Google street view. Some places you can’t tell if you are in the United States or Mexico. Even Koch foods has virtually permanent Now Hiring banners hanging by Morris Blvd. in spanish and english. Even bail bonds billboards in spanish. Go to Walmart – you’ll hear spanish at least as much as english. It’s no mystery. If the illegals are here “off the books” they aren’t contributing to the tax base. If they are in “low wage jobs Americans don’t want” they also are not contributing to the tax base. If they are consuming social welfare – including the education welfare system known as public schools, then they are an overall drain on tax revenue. Your “cheap labor” is being subsidized by the public.
My response from Representative Stevens:
Ken,
Good to hear from you. I am fairly certain that there will be legislation presented to
make a state crime for “unauthorized presence” – which would criminalize being
the State of Tennessee unlawfully. Note: Texas did this and it is being litigated in
federal court, so we will have to see how that all turns out, too.
Also, I have heard there will be another bill to criminalize transporting illegal aliens
in the state. A similar bill died last year for some reason – probably cost.
We are limited on what we can do at the state level, but I know there is a big appetite
from the conservative wing of the GOP to take all the actions we can.
Robert Stevens
Well at least these elected officials even bothered to respond! I wrote both my State Rep. and Senator (Littleton & Roberts) on this matter and, neither even bothered to recognize my email, much less respond. I’m assuming both are just planning to ‘play nice’ with the elitist politicians on The Hill on this immigration issue. They both just simply refuse to ‘make waves’. Sad! But, as a result, neither one will get my vote in the general election. And, although, I certainly won’t vote for their dumocrat opponent, I will continue to write letters like this so they’ll do the work of the people, not the powerful.