Image Credit: Canva
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A Tennessee State Senator says penalties are needed for law enforcement agencies and officers who fail to report illegal immigrants to the federal government.
To that end, Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga-District 10) has filed Senate Bill 0017 (SB0017) which would enforce a law that the Tennessee General Assembly passed last year albeit without his help.
Gardenhire was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the legislation which took effect the first of July in 2024. The only other senators to vote against the bill were all Democrats.
Like last year’s bill, Gardenhire’s proposed legislation would not target illegal immigrant children attending Tennessee public schools, but is intended for illegal immigrants already in custody for committing a crime. Undocumented immigrants who are witness to, or victims of a crime are likewise not included in the reporting requirements.
Gardenhire says that there is no accountability with the new law and proposes that agencies who fail to report immigrants for being in the United States, and in Tennessee in particular, unlawfully be subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
How law enforcement agencies across the state handle enforcing the law differs from one agency to another.
According to FOX 17 News, Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) has declined to enforce the existing law, believing that they have no authority in enforcing immigration laws which they say is the sole responsibility of federal law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Davidson County Sheriff’s office identifies undocumented immigrants via fingerprints records if they are found to be in the ICE database.
Agencies also vary with regard to what is published and included on police reports made available to the public.
Some, like Knox County, make full police reports available, while MNPD publishes reports that do not list immigration status publicly. The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office lists immigration status but typically classifies hispanic individuals as “white,” and in Clarksville, residents must file open records requests to even get their hands on a police report.
With so much variance in the way law enforcement agencies report, the data regarding the frequency of crimes committed by illegal immigrants ends up skewed – intentionally or otherwise – leading to legislators citing inaccurate numbers as they attempt to pass, or block, legislation.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
