Image Credit: Representative Lee Reeves presents the amended version of HB0177 in the House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill that would criminalize the presence of illegal immigrants in the state will be heard in both chambers of the General Assembly this week.
Senate Bill 1087 (SB1087), sponsored by Senator Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27), is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 with the companion House Bill 0177 (HB0177), sponsored by Representative Lee Reeves (R-Franklin-District 65), scheduled in the House State and Local Government Committee on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025.
The legislation, initially a caption bill, was amended in the House Departments and Agencies Subcommittee last week.
According to Reeves, the bill establishes the state crime of illegal entry for individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States and who enter and remain in Tennessee without authorization.
Calling the legislation “a measured, responsible step towards protecting Tennessee communities,” Reeves stated that HB0177 aims to enforce the rule of law and demagnetize the state to illegal immigration.
The penalty for a first violation would be a Class B misdemeanor with a second or subsequent violation a Class E felony, with those charged or convicted given 72 hours to leave the state.
While the enforcement of immigration laws falls under federal purview, with help from law enforcement at the local and state level, a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court – Arizona v. United States – says that states cannot make new immigrant enforcement laws.
With that power belonging exclusively to the federal government, HB0177/SB1087 is a “trigger law” like Tennessee’s Human Life Protection Act which took effect in 2022.
The bill would go into effect only after one of three events. The first of these is if Arizona v. United States is overturned. The second is after ratification of a Constitutional amendment that would give the right to regulate immigration to states. The third trigger event requires the passage of similar legislation in other states that remains in effect for 60 days.
Contact information for members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee and for the House State and Local Government Committee is provided below.
Sen.richard.briggs@capitol.tn.gov, sen.page.walley@capitol.tn.gov, sen.tom.hatcher@capitol.tn.gov, sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov, sen.ed.jackson@capitol.tn.gov, sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov, sen.adam.lowe@capitol.tn.gov, sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov, sen.jeff.yarbro@capitol.tn.gov
Rep.john.crawford@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dave.wright@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rush.bricken@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jeff.burkhart@capitol.tn.gov, rep.ed.butler@capitol.tn.gov, rep.michele.carringer@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jesse.chism@capitol.tn.gov, rep.vincent.dixie@capitol.tn.gov, rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dan.howell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tom.leatherwood@capitol.tn.gov, rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov, rep.greg.martin@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jake.mccalmon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.larry.miller@capitol.tn.gov, rep.bo.mitchell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov, rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov, rep.dennis.powers@capitol.tn.gov, rep.tim.rudd@capitol.tn.gov, rep.iris.rudder@capitol.tn.gov, rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov, rep.todd.warner@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
