Tennessee Lawmakers To Introduce Immigration Legislation Based On Advice From Trump Advisor

Image Credit: Speaker Cameron Sexton / Facebook & Gage Skidmore / CC

The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –

Republican leadership in the General Assembly has reportedly been working with Trump policy advisor and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller to develop a slate of legislation for the 2026 legislative session targeting illegal aliens and immigration policies.

According to comments from Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to Knox News, he has been conversing with Miller for a while, beginning even before ICE’s presence as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force in September of last year. 

Sexton expects roughly eight or nine bills for the legislative session that Republicans hope will become a model for other states in dealing with illegal immigration. He said the upcoming slate is being supported by Gov. Lee and Republicans in both the House and Senate. 

“(The bills) will address illegal immigration in our state from private businesses, to local governments, to education to the state and everything in between,” Sexton said.

Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14), who serves as the House Deputy Speaker, discussed the upcoming bill slate last week at an Americans for Prosperity legislative priorities meeting in Knoxville.

“Our Speaker has been to the White House numerous times, he’s been working with Stephen Miller, and they’ve asked Tennessee to go first… I have read all ten pieces of legislation, the language, we don’t have the drafts yet, this is strong legislation. And the president is behind us, the president has promised his support on social media for us, and we’re being told Tennessee will go first,” he said.

“Right now, it costs $971 million a year for the illegal immigrants in this state. I promise you, when we start passing this legislation, Tennessee will be the model for other states to follow.”

Calling the collaboration “plotting with the White House”, the Nashville Scene criticized the plan, taking shots at Cameron for his recent brush with local law enforcement when his private vehicle was pulled over for speeding and questioning, “who in the hell would willingly spend time with Stephen Miller at the White House and then brag about it?”

 “You can’t have the best interests of the state or the country at heart and hang out with pedophiles and their friends,” the article stated.

The specifics of the anticipated legislation, and how the bills will build on or differ from the omnibus immigration bill passed by the legislature last year, have not been announced yet, though Sexton has said the new legislation will help lawmakers determine how many illegal immigrants are living in Tennessee. 

“Part of the problem is we don’t have all those answers to understand how big of an issue or how small of an issue. We know it’s an issue and hopefully the legislation will help us answer that as well,” Sexton said.

Rep. Zachary said he anticipates the bills will be filed and introduced within two weeks of the session’s start.

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.