The Tennessee Legislature has successfully passed two bills aimed at combatting illegal immigration within the state.
The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference will be responsible for gathering and organizing data on the expenses associated with undocumented immigrants in the state who have been accused or found guilty of a criminal offense. The resulting report will be submitted to the governor, as well as the speakers of both the House and Senate.
Senator Ferrell Haile, a representative from Gallatin, expressed his support for the bills, stating that they will enable the state to take legal action against the federal government regarding the financial burdens caused by illegal immigration in Tennessee.
The fiscal note for House Bill 2774 amounts to approximately $370,000 per year. In a previous version of the bill, it was estimated that local governments would incur a cost of over $7 million annually for the collection and reporting of information. However, the bill was subsequently amended to involve the consultation of various law enforcement agencies, including the DAGC, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, and the Department of Correction, in order to compile the report.
Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat from Memphis, inquired if the report provided any assistance or support for individuals entering the country.
Rep. Jake McCalmon, a Republican from Franklin, dismissed the argument as irrelevant and immaterial to the bill. He emphasized that the bill focuses on evaluating the expenses incurred by Tennessee taxpayers due to the presence of individuals currently incarcerated in county jails and state prisons.
According to Stanford research, Pearson expressed his belief that we are not doing enough to provide meaningful support to individuals who come to Tennessee. He highlighted that non-citizens have a 30% lower likelihood of being incarcerated compared to citizens.
Excluding data on individuals in the country who are using a valid passport, the bill has been amended.
Under Senate Bill 757, local law enforcement is mandated to verify the citizenship of any detainee and promptly report individuals who are found to be illegally in the country to the Department of Attorney General and Citizenship (DAGC).
To complete the arrest process, individuals will be required to provide certain documents, including a Social Security card or number, a Tennessee driver’s license or photo identification, a green card or student visa, a valid passport, United States birth certificate, or a certificate of naturalization.
Law enforcement now has the authority to determine whether an individual without proper documentation is a homeless resident of the United States, as stated in the law.