A sweeping immigration legislation in Tennessee is poised to render it illegal for local authorities to implement sanctuary city policies and establish temporary driver’s licenses for non-citizens.
Senate Bill 6002/House Bill 6001 successfully passed through both houses of the state legislature on Thursday afternoon after a rapid special legislative session initiated by Governor Bill Lee.
This controversial measure designates a Class E felony for any official who casts a vote in support of sanctuary policies, which reduce collaboration with federal immigration enforcement. Moreover, it enforces the removal of any officials convicted under this statute.
President Donald Trump has been actively challenging sanctuary cities such as New York and Chicago, where local leaders refrain from inquiring about residents’ immigration statuses or reporting them to authorities, as he works to deliver on his much-publicized mass deportation agenda.
The legislation in Tennessee would also mandate the Department of Public Safety to provide temporary driver’s licenses to lawful permanent residents or others legally permitted to be in the U.S. but not holding citizenship, as a means of assessing voter eligibility. Presently, these individuals are eligible for regular driver’s licenses.
Those attempting to utilize a driver’s license “from a state that grants licenses to illegal aliens” to obtain a license in Tennessee would additionally need to present proof of citizenship or legal authorization.
This bill also establishes an “immigration enforcement grant program” designed to encourage local governments to collaborate with the U.S. Attorney General’s Office to implement federal immigration laws.
The ACLU, an organization advocating for civil rights, announced plans to contest the legislation in court immediately upon its enactment.
“Threatening officials with felony charges and criminal prosecution merely based on their voting decisions raises significant constitutional issues,” the group declared in a statement. “This authoritarian law is incompatible with fundamental American principles of democracy and the rule of law, and we must challenge it in court.”
Democratic Representative Justin Pearson from Memphis warned that the bill establishes a “perilous precedent.”
“This legislation solely aims to weaponize government against those who would govern in line with their conscience,” he stated during the special session. “This is authoritarian, it is unjust, and the actions we’re being compelled to take are amoral.”
Republican Representative William Lamberth from Portland referenced the fatalities of Laken Riley and others who were murdered by undocumented immigrants to support the bill’s justification.
“Let it be known: We will not permit sanctuary cities in our state,” he declared. “It is not going to happen here in Tennessee, and our citizens should not fear for their lives because of illegal immigrants.”
