Latest news with #JesusLovestheLittleChildren
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Using prayer as protest, Tennessee clergy disrupt debate to deny education to immigrant children
Rev. Rick Roberts, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Donelson and Rev. Matt Steinhauer, interim pastor of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Franklin, on Monday knelt in front of lawmakers debating a bill to deny an education to some immigrant children. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Debate over a bill to deny certain immigrant children the right to an education was disrupted Monday as two Lutheran pastors knelt in front of a House committee room and recited the Lord's Prayer. Others in the audience soon joined from their seats. The bill (HB793/SB836) by Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland — both Republicans — would give public school districts the option of verifying student immigration status, charging tuition of students who cannot prove they are legal residents or barring enrollment entirely. Legislative hearings about the bill have often drawn large audiences, including clergy who have previously interrupted debate to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sung 'Jesus Loves the Little Children.' 'Economically reckless' Small businesses slam bill to bar immigrant kids from school On Monday, as during previous disruptions, Republicans immediately called for a vote as the Christian prayer was recited, then exited the room. The measure passed 8-7. A companion bill in the Senate is headed to a floor vote. The two bills differ in one key respect: the Senate version requires schools to check immigration status. In the House version, public school districts have the option of checking status, rather than a legal mandate. Rep. John Ray Clemmons, a Nashville Democrat, raised his voice and, at times, banged his hand on the dais, speaking out against the measure as a way to 'discriminate against innocent children who have no idea whether they are undocumented or not.' 'I've given up trying to compel people with empathy, heart, love, anything like that so I'm going to talk about money,' he said. Clemmons cited data showing the high costs of crime, healthcare, lifetime lowered earning potential and poverty associated with children not finishing high school. 'All of these things cost the state of Tennessee money. And all are the direct results of kids not finishing high school,' he said. 'This makes no sense.' Lamberth has cited rising cost of English-language learner instruction in Tennessee public schools as one driver of the bill, while critics have noted English language learners include legal immigrants. Lamberth has also made clear that his goal for the legislation is to draw a legal challenge that ultimately lands before the Supreme Court in order to revisit its 1982 decision in Plyler v. Doe, which established the right to public school education for all children, regardless of immigration status. Maria and Paul Stenz pray during a House committee meeting on April 7, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Rev. Matt Steinhauer, in clerical collar and at right, Rev. Rick Roberts, leave a House committee meeting after Tennessee Highway Patrol officers asked them to leave. The pair disrupted the meeting by reciting the Lord's Prayer. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Lamberth stressed Monday his version of the bill is permissive, giving ultimate authority on whether to check student immigration status, charge tuition or deny enrollment to individual school districts. The bill's language contains no requirement that schools report students without legal status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but Watson, the bill's cosponsor, told lawmakers last week that was 'something to be considered in the rules and regulations' the state Department of Education would develop should the bill become law. Rep. Monty Fritts, a Republican from Kingston, praised Lamberth for bringing the bill, saying there is 'no greater act of rebellion in these United States than illegally coming across that border.' Tennessee Senate OKs bill to hold charities liable for aiding immigrants who later commit crime 'We're not talking about immigrants. We're talking about illegals. There's a big difference,' he said, drawing jeers from some in the audience. Fritts's comments also drew pushback from TIRRC Votes, the political action arm of the Tennessee Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. 'Republicans like Rep. Fritts are scrambling to point their finger at immigrants in order to distract us from the real insurrection happening before our eyes,' said Judith Clerjeune, TIRRC Votes advocacy director. 'An unelected billionaire is hijacking Tennesseans' retirement accounts while a lawless president defies court orders and imposes shortsighted tariffs, raising the prices of everything from eggs to cars to homes. Monday's meeting drew about a dozen clergy members and pastors from Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the United Methodist Church, Church of Christ and other denominations who were among more than 240 faith leaders who signed a letter to lawmakers urging them to vote against the bill. 'We are calling on you to consider the impact of your vote and steward the influence you have to create welcoming communities for the neighbors Christ commands us to love as ourselves,' the letter said. The bill will next be heard in the House Finance committee next week. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Protester carried out after undocumented student bill passes TN committee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A protester was carried out of the Capitol Tuesday morning after a Senate committee advanced a proposal targeting undocumented students. The bill would allow school districts to check documentation of students and require undocumented students to pay tuition. Supporters say it could ease the burden on school districts. But opponents are questioning the motivation of a bill that runs in direct conflict with a 1982 Supreme Court ruling. Some protesters refused to leave the hearing room after the vote. The state senators with the Finance, Ways and Means committee spent 30 minutes discussing this legislation before coming to a 7-4 vote. Once the gavel wrapped, one man started singing 'Jesus Loves the Little Children,' which led the chair to ask for a recess and for the gallery to be cleared. Tennessee bill to let school districts deny undocumented students narrowly passes Senate committee Several protestors in the front of the room didn't listen to the Sergeant At Arms' demand for them to clear the room. Three Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers were then called in and politely asked them to leave the room. The protesters began sharing their concerns with the troopers, to which they politely responded that they had no power over the situation. One trooper even got on one knee to console a protester in tears. After about 12 minutes, the protesters in the front row got up, and just as they were walking out, they noticed their 80-year-old friend was still sitting in the room, refusing to get up. The protesters wouldn't leave without her. And after 10 minutes of troopers trying to get her to stand up and walk out — even warning her that she would have to be charged if they removed her — she refused, saying 'do what you have to do.' More than eight troopers came into the room to have her carried out of the room and the building. Demonstrators gather in opposition of bill that would allow schools 'to refuse to enroll' undocumented students She was then driven off in a sheriff's patrol vehicle. She was taken to the Metro jail to be booked on unknown charges. 'It's just unbelievably sad that our legislators are so calloused and so closed off to the cares and concerns of the communities that they're supposed to represent, said Rev. Emily Haynes with Kaleo Nashville Church. 'I look at this as being parallel to refusing to allow black people to learn to read before the civil war. This is just a return of the same kind of mentality, same kind of cruelty, anger and hatred that is undeserved and irrelevant shouldn't be there at all. Needs to be done away with and pushed out,' said former Nashville educator Jim Polk. The committee's recommendation of the bill means that it is now available for floor debate and a vote in the state senate. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Key Tennessee committee passes bill that could bar undocumented kids from schools
A key Tennessee House committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow schools to block undocumented children from enrollment, one of the most controversial measures of the 2025 legislative session. For some Republicans, the legislation has emerged as an avatar of the frustration with what they call a broken immigration system across the country. The bill's sponsors have admitted the state would likely be quickly sued over the legislation if it becomes law. The bill's sponsors hope to trigger a critical legal battle to potentially challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent that all children have a right to access public education. Education advocates and Democrats sharply criticized Republicans for targeting children in their effort to make a statement on immigration issues and elevate a legal case before the current conservative Supreme Court. 'We should not put our children – the least of us, those who cannot do for themselves – in the middle of an adult battle,' said Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville. 'This is a bully bill doing just that.' House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, is sponsoring the legislation and argued schools should at least be able to gather data on the number of undocumented students in their student population. Under current federal law, schools cannot ask for citizenship documentation. "Each [school system] should be able to make the determination on their own as to whether or not they wish to check the immigration of the student who is trying to enroll in that school," Lamberth said. The Education Committee chair called for an abrupt vote Wednesday night after a handful of audience members stood and began singing the song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Two Democrats on the committee said they couldn't even hear the call for the vote, but their voting terminals lit up and they quickly cast the vote. The bill passed on an 11-7 vote, drawing Republican opposition from the committee chair, Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis. Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfreesboro, and Rep. Tim Hicks, R-Gray, also voted against the legislation with the committee's three Democrats. Republican lawmakers quickly left the committee room after the vote while dozens of protestors stomped and clapped, shouting "Every student counts." In the amended version of HB 793, schools could choose to require all students to prove legal citizenship or immigration status, but schools do not have to require the documentation. Schools could also block students without legal status from enrolling or choose to charge those students tuition to enroll in the school. The amended bill appears to align with a Senate amendment that was supposed to be heard on Tuesday. The Senate bill was delayed and won't be heard until next week. Nashville resident Karla MacIntyre testified against the bill, telling lawmakers she grew up in Tennessee as an undocumented child after her mother, a domestic violence survivor, 'had the courage to immigrate to the U.S. to give her two daughters a chance at survival.' MacIntyre, who later graduated high school and earned two higher education degrees, noted her mother would not have been able to afford tuition for her if this bill had passed during her childhood and her local school chose to charge students. MacIntyre praised the Tennessee educators who encouraged her to work hard and strive for success. 'These diplomas are a testament to the importance of education in shaping our future and helping the growth of our state,' MacIntyre said. Jenny Mills McFerron from EdTrust Tennessee also testified against the bill, warning lawmakers of the downstream effects of denying children an education. 'What happens when thousands of children are locked out of classrooms? What would it look like if there were thousands of children in our communities who never learned how to read?' McFerron asked. Republicans who support the measure have repeatedly said local schools shouldn't have to bear the costs of educating children without legal immigration status, citing rising rates of English as a second language instruction in the state. "We have to get a handle on this moving forward, and I don't see another trigger here unless we challenge Plyler v. Doe in court," said Rep. Scott Cepicky, R-Culleoka, referencing the Supreme Court case the legislation seeks to challenge. Still, McFerron noted a large majority of English learners in schools are U.S. citizens, while Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, argued all undocumented immigrants pay into Tennessee's tax structure. The state heavily relies on sales taxes, paid anytime someone buys groceries of pays for gas, rather than an income tax. "We know that every undocumented immigrant in Tennessee pays all the same taxes and actually gets fewer benefits. They are paying their fair share," Johnson said. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN committee passes bill that could bar undocumented students
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP bill allowing Tennessee schools to deny an education to immigrant children advances
Protestors packed the Tennessee House Education Committee Wednesday to oppose a bill that would deny immigrant children lacking legal status the right to a public school education. (Photo: John Partipilo) A bill giving public school districts the right to refuse enrollment to children without legal immigration status advanced in the Tennessee House Wednesday as a packed audience disrupted debate by standing and singing spiritual music in protest. The panel of lawmakers swiftly cast their votes 11-7 in favor of the measure and exited the room as people rose to sing 'Jesus Loves the Little Children,' ending a contentious hour-and-a-half hearing. Three Republicans joined the committee's four Democrats in casting a 'no' vote. The bill (HB793/SB836) by Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and House Majority Leader William Lamberth of Portland — both Republicans — would give public school districts the option of verifying student immigration status and charging tuition of students who cannot prove they are legal residents. Alternatively, school districts could refuse to enroll children without proof of legal residency. The bill has drawn large protests for weeks as it has wound through the legislative process. It was significantly amended Wednesday, stripping an initial requirement that all Tennessee public schools must verify the immigration status of every student and, instead, making checks optional for public school districts. The amended version of the bill would also exempt students refused admission by their local public school as a result of their immigration status from the state's truancy laws. Both of the bill's sponsors have said they hope the measure could serve as a test case for the Supreme Court to revisit its 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision that established that all children in the United States have the right to a public education regardless of their immigration status. 'What we're allowing (schools) to do is what Plyler prohibited them from doing,' Lamberth said Wednesday. Citing increasing numbers of English language learners in Tennessee schools, Lamberth said the measure is necessary due to years of federal inaction in controlling the nation's borders, leaving states to bear the burden of educating children whose parents 'skipped the line.' 'The families that we are talking about, the parents we are talking about have absolutely gone around that process,' he said. The bill drew fierce pushback from Democrats on the House Education panel. 'I think we all heard it here today, what this bill is really about,' said Rep. Sam McKenzie, a Knoxville Democrat, who called the legislation a 'bully bill to try to undo the law of the land.' 'We have for over 40 years abided by this decision… because it's the right thing,' he said. 'We should not put our children — the least of us, those that cannot do for themselves — in the middle of an adult battle.' A fiscal analysis of the bill noted it could jeopardize over $1 billion in federal education funding to the state. The bill will next be heard April 1 in the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. A separate bill that would have similarly required children without legal immigration status to pay public school tuition, and financial institutions to check immigration status of customers seeking to wire funds overseas, failed Wednesday in a House Banking and Consumer Affairs committee.
