Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes Class E felony criminal penalties for officials who adopt sanctuary city immigration policies in Tennessee.

Highlights:

• Establishes the centralized immigration enforcement division within the Department of Safety (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes a chief executive who will be appointed by the governor as the chief immigration enforcement officer, duties will include (Sec. 1-8):

• Overseeing state and local collaboration with federal immigration agencies;

• Establish efficient communication between all agencies at each level;

• Developing strategic immigration enforcement plans;

• Coordinating participation in federal immigration programs;

• Report annually to the governor and general assembly on immigration-related progress and change; and

• Coordinate funding to help state and local law enforcement to implement federal immigration laws.

• Specifies that the state of Tennessee and the United States shall try to agree with the enforcement of federal immigration (Sec. 1-8).

• Prohibits any official from violating the agreement concerning the enforcement of federal immigration (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes a Class E felony for officials who violate the agreement (Sec. 1-8).

• Requires the Attorney General to initiate an action to remove the official from office who violates the agreement (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes an immigration enforcement grant program to incentivize local governments to agree to work with federal immigration laws (Sec. 1-8):

• Establishes the chief immigration enforcement officer to distribute these funds; and

• Specifies to receive these funds there must be an executed agreement between local government and the United States Attorney General

• Specifies that the adoption of a sanctuary policy would be a violation of this act (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes when applicants apply for a driver's license, instruction permit, intermediate driver's license, or photo identification license, upon initial issuance or reinstatement, must provide proof of US citizenship (Sec. 1-8).

• Specifies the issuance of any temporary identification only to lawful permanent residents or individuals authorized to be in the United States and requires these temporary identifications to not allow users to be eligible for the right or benefit of something exclusive to United States citizens (Sec. 1-8).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes Class E felony criminal penalties for officials who adopt sanctuary city immigration policies in Tennessee.

Highlights:

• Establishes the centralized immigration enforcement division within the Department of Safety (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes a chief executive who will be appointed by the governor as the chief immigration enforcement officer, duties will include (Sec. 1-8):

• Overseeing state and local collaboration with federal immigration agencies;

• Establish efficient communication between all agencies at each level;

• Developing strategic immigration enforcement plans;

• Coordinating participation in federal immigration programs;

• Report annually to the governor and general assembly on immigration-related progress and change; and

• Coordinate funding to help state and local law enforcement to implement federal immigration laws.

• Specifies that the state of Tennessee and the United States shall try to agree with the enforcement of federal immigration (Sec. 1-8).

• Prohibits any official from violating the agreement concerning the enforcement of federal immigration (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes a Class E felony for officials who violate the agreement (Sec. 1-8).

• Requires the Attorney General to initiate an action to remove the official from office who violates the agreement (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes an immigration enforcement grant program to incentivize local governments to agree to work with federal immigration laws (Sec. 1-8):

• Establishes the chief immigration enforcement officer to distribute these funds; and

• Specifies to receive these funds there must be an executed agreement between local government and the United States Attorney General

• Specifies that the adoption of a sanctuary policy would be a violation of this act (Sec. 1-8).

• Establishes when applicants apply for a driver's license, instruction permit, intermediate driver's license, or photo identification license, upon initial issuance or reinstatement, must provide proof of US citizenship (Sec. 1-8).

• Specifies the issuance of any temporary identification only to lawful permanent residents or individuals authorized to be in the United States and requires these temporary identifications to not allow users to be eligible for the right or benefit of something exclusive to United States citizens (Sec. 1-8).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect July 1, 2025 (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text