Tennessee Sits On Sidelines As Other Republican States Make It Illegal For Illegal Aliens To Enter

Image Credit: Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

While Tennessee lawmakers have been passing reactive illegal immigration bills, other Republican-led states have taken initiative, effectively banning illegal immigrants from entering into or living within their borders. 

States like Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Louisiana and Florida have all recently passed preventative illegal immigration laws to tackle the issue head-on. 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s state legislature passed a bill this year that prohibits illegal immigrants from entering or living in the state.

HB4156 declares “a substantial and compelling interest in ensuring that the rights, privileges, and immunities of its citizens, authorized residents, and lawfully present visitors be protected at all costs.”

The legislation dictates an illegal immigration crisis in the state and further establishes that “impermissible occupation” will be considered a misdemeanor in the state, punishable by up to one year in county jail and/or a fine of up to $500. 

Subsequent offenses will be felonies, punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Additionally, an illegal immigrant previously barred from the U.S. or issued a removal order by an immigration judge, who proceeds to enter the State of Oklahoma will face a felony charge with up to two years in prison and/or a fine of up to $1,000.

Any individual convicted of these offenses will be required to leave Oklahoma within 72 hours of being convicted or released from custody. Fingerprints, photographs and biometric data will be collected by law enforcement for cross-checking with Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation databases.

Reportedly, the bill passed in both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature by wide margins and Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) is expected to sign it into law.

Texas

In late 2023, the Texas state legislature passed a bill “relating to prohibitions on the illegal entry into or illegal presence in this state by a person who is an alien,” making it a crime to enter the state outside legal ports of entry.

SB4 authorizes, and in some circumstances, requires the removal of illegal immigrants from the State of Texas and creates criminal offenses for those who do not leave after being ordered to or those who have been previously convicted.

Illegally crossing the border under this legislation would be a Class B misdemeanor with up to six months in jail. Subsequent offenses could face a 2^nd degree felony with up to twenty years in prison. 

The legislation also requires Texas judges to order convicted illegal immigrants to return to their country of legal residence. However, a judge would be allowed to drop charges if that illegal immigrant will voluntarily return to their country.

SB4 was meant to go into effect in March of this year but has been tied up in the court system instead. 

Iowa

SF2340 was passed by the Iowa legislature and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) earlier this month. 

The legislation makes it a misdemeanor for an individual to be in the state or attempt to enter the state if they have previously been deported, denied admission to the U.S. or if they have an outstanding deportation order. 

Additionally, it creates a felony for illegal immigrants in the state who already have two or more misdemeanor convictions involving drugs or crimes against an individual. 

Similar to Texas’ SB4, Iowa’s legislation gives judges the option to drop charges against an illegal immigrant if the individual agrees to return to their country voluntarily. 

Louisiana

Louisiana’s state legislature is currently considering SB388 “to deter unlawful entry into this state” by creating the crime of “unlawful entry or reentry by an alien.” 

Unlawful entry or reentry under SB388 would be punishable by up to one year in prison and/or a $4,000 fine upon first offense. 

Subsequent offenses “shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor” for up to two years and/or fined up to $10,000.

The bill text states that “as a result of the federal government’s ‘non-enforcement policies, large numbers of aliens who commit subsequent crimes are being released into communities across the [U.S.]’ including Louisiana ‘rather than being detained or removed, allowing these criminal aliens to commit additional crimes and increase the number of victims.’”

If passed by the state legislature, this legislation would take effect “immediately upon, and to the extent permitted by” either the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Texas’ SB4 or an amendment to the U.S. Constitution increasing state authority over immigration. 

Florida

In 2023, SB1718 was passed by the Florida legislature and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to prohibit cities and counties from enabling illegal immigrants. 

Among other things, the legislation also required the Department of Economic Opportunity to require repayment of grants and incentives if a recipient has knowingly employed an illegal immigrant. It also invalidated within the state, any drivers licenses and permits issued by other states to illegal immigrants. 

Even states like Arizona and New Hampshire are attempting to take preventative measures to protect their borders.

Read more about Illegal Immigration in Tennessee.

 

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. 

You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.