Latest news with #ACLU-TN
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
ACLU of Tennessee files petition to challenge state rule about sex designations on driver licenses
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee has filed a petition to challenge the state's laws about driver licenses and other state identification for transgender Tennesseans. In 2023, Tennessee passed a bill defining 'sex' as anatomy at birth. Additionally, last year a federal appeals court ruled that there is no fundamental right to change sex on a birth certificate. In Tennessee, all identifying documentation—including driver licenses—must match; all transgender Tennesseans change the marker on their identifying documents if it does not match their birth certificate. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → The ACLU-TN originally filed a petition to challenge the state's driver license rule in April 2024 on behalf of 'Jane Doe,' whose identity has been withheld due to safety concerns. The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security—one of the defendants in the case—did not issue accurate identification documents, according to the ACLU, and caused her significant harm. Chrissy Miller later joined the case as a plaintiff. ACLU-TN said that while Miller was successfully able to change the sex designation on her driver's license, the state department told her that she has to surrender it or face losing driving privileges. Last September, the court ordered the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to evaluate its actions and determine whether the agency stood by them. A hearing was held in January, and the Department affirmed its actions; the plaintiffs then asked the Department to stop enforcing the rule while the court heard arguments in the case. The department reportedly refused, resulting in a new court filing Monday. ⏩ 'All people deserve the freedom to live their lives safely and with dignity,' ACLU-TN Senior Attorney Lucas Cameron-Vaughn said in a press release. 'Our clients need accurate identification documents in order to travel for work and family, to vote, and to engage in everyday life like everyone else. Forcing them to carry identification that contradicts who they are—or else withholding that identification altogether—is cruel, unfair and unlawful.' A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. If you have been prevented from getting a driver license with an accurate gender marker, you can contact the ACLU-TN here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee's immigration law: From criminalizing support for sanctuary cities to new IDs, what GOP-backed bill does
Tennessee Republicans passed an immigration bill this week criminalizing local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. Additionally, the bill seeks to establish a central immigration enforcement office and adopt new driver's licenses differentiating legal resident immigrants from U.S. citizens. Shortly following the bill's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee announced it was preparing to sue the state over the pending law. "This unprecedented, unconstitutional legislation will inflict unimaginable harm on people who have immigrated to Tennessee seeking freedom and a better life, and criminalize any local officials who vote in support of 'sanctuary policies,'" said ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough in a statement. "Threatening officials with felony charges and criminal prosecution based solely on how they vote raises significant constitutional concerns." The bill will soon go to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. Here's what to know. If signed into law, the bill will criminalize local officials who support sanctuary policies, establish a central immigration enforcement office and adopt new new driver's licenses for non-U.S. citizens. Criminalization for support of sanctuary cities: The bill criminalizes local officials, such as county commission or city council members, who vote for any policy considered a "sanctuary" measure, despite sanctuary policies already being banned in Tennessee. Support for sanctuary policies from local officials would be considered a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. Immigration enforcement division: The legislation will fund a $5 million office within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, allowing Lee to tap an enforcement director and incentivize local law enforcement entities to enter into a contract program with federal immigration authorities. However, the bill does no make substantive changes on how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal officials. New licenses for legal residents, non-U.S. citizens: Under the new bill, legal residents will no longer carry the same IDs as U.S. citizens. Instead, legal residents, such as DACA recipients or green card holders, will be assigned licenses with "visually distinctive" markers. According to the bill, legal residents who renew their license on or after Jan. 1, 2026, must provide proof of citizenship to maintain their license, permit or photo ID. If proof is not provided, the resident will be issued a temporary ID. Lee and GOP leadership have said the measures are necessary to help President Donald Trump enforce his immigration policies, despite the Trump administration not explicitly directing states to take up any new policies at this time. As previously reported by The Tennessean, the bill was passed despite warnings from staff attorneys that the bill is "constitutionally suspect" in its unprecedented effort to curtail elected officials' voting decisions. "It is illegal under state law to set up sanctuary cities. That statute, as defined now, does not have any teeth in it," said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. "We are not going to allow cities and counties set up a sanctuary city. If they vote to do so, absolutely it will be a felony and they will be removed from office." Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What does Tennessee's immigration law do? Bill supports Trump policy
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Tennessee's immigration law: From criminalizing support for sanctuary cities to new IDs, what GOP-backed bill does
Tennessee Republicans passed an immigration bill this week criminalizing local officials who support sanctuary policies for immigrants. Additionally, the bill seeks to establish a central immigration enforcement office and adopt new driver's licenses differentiating legal resident immigrants from U.S. citizens. Shortly following the bill's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee announced it was preparing to sue the state over the pending law. "This unprecedented, unconstitutional legislation will inflict unimaginable harm on people who have immigrated to Tennessee seeking freedom and a better life, and criminalize any local officials who vote in support of 'sanctuary policies,'" said ACLU-TN Legal Director Stella Yarbrough in a statement. "Threatening officials with felony charges and criminal prosecution based solely on how they vote raises significant constitutional concerns." The bill will soon go to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. Here's what to know. What is Tennessee's immigration bill, what will it do? If signed into law, the bill will criminalize local officials who support sanctuary policies, establish a central immigration enforcement office and adopt new new driver's licenses for non-U.S. citizens. Criminalization for support of sanctuary cities: The bill criminalizes local officials, such as county commission or city council members, who vote for any policy considered a "sanctuary" measure, despite sanctuary policies already being banned in Tennessee. Support for sanctuary policies from local officials would be considered a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. The bill criminalizes local officials, such as county commission or city council members, who vote for any policy considered a "sanctuary" measure, despite sanctuary policies already being banned in Tennessee. Support for sanctuary policies from local officials would be considered a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine. Immigration enforcement division: The legislation will fund a $5 million office within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, allowing Lee to tap an enforcement director and incentivize local law enforcement entities to enter into a contract program with federal immigration authorities. However, the bill does no make substantive changes on how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal officials. The legislation will fund a $5 million office within the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, allowing Lee to tap an enforcement director and incentivize local law enforcement entities to enter into a contract program with federal immigration authorities. However, the bill does no make substantive changes on how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal officials. New licenses for legal residents, non-U.S. citizens: Under the new bill, legal residents will no longer carry the same IDs as U.S. citizens. Instead, legal residents, such as DACA recipients or green card holders, will be assigned licenses with "visually distinctive" markers. According to the bill, legal residents who renew their license on or after Jan. 1, 2026, must provide proof of citizenship to maintain their license, permit or photo ID. If proof is not provided, the resident will be issued a temporary ID. Why did the Tennessee GOP supermajority pass the immigration bill? Lee and GOP leadership have said the measures are necessary to help President Donald Trump enforce his immigration policies, despite the Trump administration not explicitly directing states to take up any new policies at this time. As previously reported by The Tennessean, the bill was passed despite warnings from staff attorneys that the bill is "constitutionally suspect" in its unprecedented effort to curtail elected officials' voting decisions. "It is illegal under state law to set up sanctuary cities. That statute, as defined now, does not have any teeth in it," said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. "We are not going to allow cities and counties set up a sanctuary city. If they vote to do so, absolutely it will be a felony and they will be removed from office." What does Tennessee's immigration bill say? Read SB 6002/HB 6001 Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@ or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
