Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a law on Thursday requiring law enforcement officers in the state to collaborate with federal immigration authorities when encountering illegal immigrant suspects. The legislation mandates that law enforcement agencies communicate with federal officials regarding the immigration status of individuals, including reporting knowledge of unlawfully present aliens and cooperating in their identification, apprehension, detention, or removal.
The bill, championed by Republican lawmakers, passed in the Tennessee state House in March and in the state Senate last week. Governor Lee approved the bill on April 11, and it will become effective on July 1.
Amid escalating immigration challenges in the US, the Tennessee law aims to address the surge in illegal immigrant encounters at the US borders. The legislation does not require local law enforcement to actively seek out suspected illegal immigrants but mandates them to notify federal immigration authorities when encountering such individuals.
The new law builds upon existing legislation from 2018, which permitted law enforcement in Tennessee to contact federal immigration authorities. The updated bill changes the requirement from a discretionary “may report” stance to a mandatory “must report” stance for Tennessee law enforcement officers.
Furthermore, the legislation prevents municipalities in the state from declaring themselves as “sanctuary” jurisdictions, where local governments limit or refuse to assist federal immigration authorities. Critics express concerns that the law could deter illegal immigrants from reporting crimes or interacting with law enforcement.
Despite potential challenges, most law enforcement agencies in Tennessee already communicate with the federal government regarding immigration status. The impact of the new law on interactions between illegal immigrants and law enforcement officials in the state remains to be seen.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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