GOP lawmakers zero in on Nashville during push for sweeping illegal immigration bills

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Some Republican state lawmakers zeroed in on Nashville’s approach to immigration enforcement, while introducing a package of immigration bills Thursday, aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration across Tennessee.

House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, suggested Nashville is intentionally sidestepping accountability when it comes to helping curb illegal immigration.

“I think some of you (journalists) have reported that Nashville is saying that, ‘We’re not working with ICE,;” said Sexton during a press conference. “We can’t be a sanctuary city, but we can house them here… They’re (Nashville) using their ability not to have to work with the federal government, not to work with the state to hold people accountable who are here illegally, and turn a blind eye and actually celebrate it, at the expense of taxpayers in Tennessee and Davidson County.”

Republican lawmakers introduced eight bills aimed at undocumented immigrants, after working with the White House. The proposals range verifying citizenship or legal status before receiving public benefits such as SNAP or public housing, to making it a criminal offense to live in Tennessee with an active deportation order.

Another bill would require courts to more closely cooperate with ICE. Citizenship status would also be checked for applicants seeking state and local government jobs or certain professional licenses, including nursing licenses.

“We’re committed to protecting taxpayer dollars, reducing fraud, waste and abuse, and once and for all, putting an end to sanctuary cities in our state,” Sexton said.

Other proposals would require more reporting from local and state entities to find out how many undocumented immigrants live in Tennessee and the cost to taxpayers, including the cost of educating minors in public schools.

“We’re going to do what we can to make sure that if you’re here illegally, we will have the data, we will have the transparency, and we’re not spending taxpayer dollars on you unless you’re in jail,” Sexton said.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said city leaders are monitoring the proposed legislation. He reiterated Friday that Metro police will continue to not enforce federal immigration laws, as it is not in the purvue of local law enforcement agencies.

“We’re following all these bills very closely,” O’Connell said. “I would not say the spirit of the bills is anything close to the welcoming and successful city that we think we’ve built with a wonderful immigrant refugee population.”

Other proposals would stop Tennessee from recognizing out-of-state commercial driver’s licenses and require immigration status checks before someone can register a vehicle, a bill prompted after Fox 17 News’ reports on the loophole.

Democratic lawmakers criticized the legislation in a statement, saying Tennesseans want lawmakers focused on lowering the cost of living and improving quality of life, instead embracing what they called a “discriminatory Stephen Miller D.C. agenda.” Miller is a top advisor to President Trump.

Democrats also noted that President Trump campaigned on ICE targeting the “worst of the worst,” while they said 70% of people currently in ICE detention do not have criminal records.

Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari of Memphis and House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons of Nashville said Republicans are ignoring rising costs and affordability concerns in favor of what they described as an aggressive anti-immigrant agenda developed with White House policy adviser Stephen Miller.

Clemmons said immigration was rarely raised during town halls held across the state last year.

“The words ‘illegal immigration’ were never once mentioned as a concern,” Clemmons said. “What I heard over and over again were concerns about the increasing cost of groceries, insurance premiums, health care and affordable housing.”

Akbari, whose father immigrated to the U.S., said the proposals amount to political theater rather than real solutions.

“Our immigration system is broken, but fear-based crackdowns don’t fix anything,” Akbari said. “They distract our leaders from the issues that matter most to Tennesseans, including the affordability crisis.”

Democrats also cited data showing immigrants make up about 6% of Tennessee’s population and contribute an estimated $46 billion to the state’s economy, while paying roughly $4.4 billion in state and local taxes. They noted Tennessee is already facing a worker shortage and said most people in ICE detention do not have criminal records.