Thread: Tennessee Passes New Immigration Law ...

Tennessee Passes New Immigration Law, Follows Arizona’s Footsteps
• June 29, 2010

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen (D) signed a bill yesterday [June 28, 2010] that creates provisions similar to, but less harsh than, those of SB 1070, including requiring city and county jails in the state to report any person who may be in violation of immigration laws to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Tennessee cracks down on illegals

A decision that follows recent state and local crackdowns on undocumented immigration — particularly Arizona’s SB 1070 and a Nebraska town’s vote to limit job and housing opportunities to undocumented immigrants — Bredesen’s vote for Tennessee’s House bill 670 isn’t surprising.

A Nashville Public Radio article also points out that a recent poll claims most Tennesseans favor laws like the ones House bill 670 puts into place.

“When Tennesseans were asked if they would support a law like Arizona’s, 60 percent said yes,â€

Related
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1082761.html#1082761

Governor signs TN immigration bill
Police must report to feds if citizenship of prisoners unclear

By Chas Sisk • THE TENNESSEAN • June 29, 2010

Gov. Phil Bredesen signed an immigration bill Monday that requires local jailers to report to federal officials those people whose immigration status they cannot verify, setting aside objections from law enforcement and civil rights groups.

Bredesen said the legislation mirrors efforts already under way to prevent the release of illegal immigrants after arrest. But he expressed qualms with the debate over the bill, which passed by wide margins in the waning days of the legislative session.

"I believe there has been significant political posturing on this issue," Bredesen said in a statement Monday. "While I do have concerns about this legislation, this bill seeks to set up a verification process similar to what exists in our state's major cities, and I have been supportive of these efforts."

The bill requires local police to report anyone they arrest to Immigration and Customs Enforcement who they believe may be in violation of immigration law or if their status cannot be determined. Supporters say the law will help federal officials find and deport illegal immigrants.

The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, calls on the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission to write procedures for local police to use when checking immigration documents. It creates exceptions for cities, such as Nashville and Memphis, that already have cooperative agreements with immigration officials.
Foes fear mistakes and profiling

Opponents included the Tennessee Sheriffs' Association, which said the law would create an unnecessary paperwork burden and lead to reporting of legal citizens to immigration authorities. They also included the American Civil Liberties Union and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, which said the law will encourage profiling of Latinos and other minorities, including those who have been naturalized or were born in the United States.

"They should not be required to carry their papers," said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU's Tennessee chapter. "We already have stories about people who have been assumed to be here illegally and have been deported. This legislation and this law that the governor has now signed will really create havoc in other people's lives."

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100 ... ation-bill

Welcome to ALIPAC "OneBlkVoice". Glad to have you aboard.

Thank you for joining with us OneBlkVoice.

What great news for Tennessee, which "wastes" 400 million dollars a year on illegal immigration. Tennessee taxpayers are tired of the bleeding that results from the illegal aliens that take from Tennessee.

Hopefully, more efforts will be taken to check entitlements, and other benefits and services, now provided to illegal aliens fraudulently.

Psalm 139:14

That same year, Bredesen signed a bill that allows the state to deny, suspend or revoke the employers’ business licenses if they knowingly employ undocumented immigrants.

Assuming that E-Verify and the biometric ID cards aren’t used, how can it be proved? Couldn’t the employer just say that they didn’t know and the documentation looked real.

The State of Tennessee Labor Department does basically nothing to check businesses that are suspected of hiring illegal aliens. Unfortunately, the State and ICE are basically inept at doing anything to curb illegal alien hiring, or enforcing the law in Tennessee. When laws are passed, and authority is given, it has to be used to be of any benefit. The same applies to the new bill just passed. Citizens must keep their voices heard, and let lawmakers know that they are watching, and that consequences will be seen as the people vote.

Psalm 139:14

Welcome to alipac OneBlkVoice. At least Tennessee is making attempts to crack down on illegal immigration.