>A Tennessee state senator told Newsweek Thursday that representatives were afraid to vote against immigration policies, even if they could be deemed unconstitutional.
>Democratic state Senator Heidi Campbell, whose 20th District covers Nashville’s inner suburbs, was speaking after state legislators approved a bill Tuesday that would make it illegal for lawmakers to vote for policies perceived as opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda—namely sanctuary procedure.
>The bill, which includes provision for a state-based immigration enforcement agency, was passed in the state’s Republican-led Senate, despite opposition from both GOP and Democratic Party members.
>”You don’t have to spend a lot of time up at the legislature to see that we are living in a totalitarian state,” Campbell told Newsweek.
>Newsweek reached out to the bill’s main sponsor, Republican Jack Johnson, as well as Republican Governor Bill Lee, for comment Thursday via email.
>Republican states have been keen to show their support for tougher immigration policies, during both the Biden administration and Trump’s. Long-standing precedent set out by the U.S. Supreme Court leaves immigration enforcement in the hands of the federal government, however.
>The move in Tennessee comes as nationwide polling has shown widespread support for immigration reform, from Republicans and Democrats, although there is some division over the process. Trump was elected following a campaign largely focused on illegal immigration and his plans to tackle it.
>Senate Bill 6002 came as part of a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, aimed at delivering Lee’s plans to deal with illegal immigration in the state.
>The legislation includes creating a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIEO), changes to state-issued IDs for legal immigrants, and launches incentives for local governments to participate in federal law enforcement under 287(g).
>It also creates a Class E felony for local leaders or officials who adopt or maintain sanctuary policies meant to protect immigrants lacking permanent legal status from federal authorities, despite the status being banned already in the state.
Why_Cant_I_Slay_This on
It’s because of the Tennessee DEI legislature
mapinis on
Oh we’re in the “criminal penalties for helping the Jews” part of this already
Sherpav on
Blatantly unconstitutional but they don’t fucking care. I hate my state legislature.
Approximation_Doctor on
Affirmative action for racists.
Smhing my head, I thought we were done with this DEI malarkey.
neolthrowaway on
Prohibit voting?
StonkSalty on
This is blatantly criminalizing dissent.
ComprehensiveHawk5 on
Holy shit I was expecting this to be a non-serious bill proposed by a crazy local rep and that this would be another dead in committee bill.
Nope, it passed both chambers of tennessee. Okay
8 Comments
>A Tennessee state senator told Newsweek Thursday that representatives were afraid to vote against immigration policies, even if they could be deemed unconstitutional.
>Democratic state Senator Heidi Campbell, whose 20th District covers Nashville’s inner suburbs, was speaking after state legislators approved a bill Tuesday that would make it illegal for lawmakers to vote for policies perceived as opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda—namely sanctuary procedure.
>The bill, which includes provision for a state-based immigration enforcement agency, was passed in the state’s Republican-led Senate, despite opposition from both GOP and Democratic Party members.
>”You don’t have to spend a lot of time up at the legislature to see that we are living in a totalitarian state,” Campbell told Newsweek.
>Newsweek reached out to the bill’s main sponsor, Republican Jack Johnson, as well as Republican Governor Bill Lee, for comment Thursday via email.
>Republican states have been keen to show their support for tougher immigration policies, during both the Biden administration and Trump’s. Long-standing precedent set out by the U.S. Supreme Court leaves immigration enforcement in the hands of the federal government, however.
>The move in Tennessee comes as nationwide polling has shown widespread support for immigration reform, from Republicans and Democrats, although there is some division over the process. Trump was elected following a campaign largely focused on illegal immigration and his plans to tackle it.
>Senate Bill 6002 came as part of a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly, aimed at delivering Lee’s plans to deal with illegal immigration in the state.
>The legislation includes creating a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIEO), changes to state-issued IDs for legal immigrants, and launches incentives for local governments to participate in federal law enforcement under 287(g).
>It also creates a Class E felony for local leaders or officials who adopt or maintain sanctuary policies meant to protect immigrants lacking permanent legal status from federal authorities, despite the status being banned already in the state.
It’s because of the Tennessee DEI legislature
Oh we’re in the “criminal penalties for helping the Jews” part of this already
Blatantly unconstitutional but they don’t fucking care. I hate my state legislature.
Affirmative action for racists.
Smhing my head, I thought we were done with this DEI malarkey.
Prohibit voting?
This is blatantly criminalizing dissent.
Holy shit I was expecting this to be a non-serious bill proposed by a crazy local rep and that this would be another dead in committee bill.
Nope, it passed both chambers of tennessee. Okay