Latest news with #LeeReeves
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tennessee Republican lawmakers urge local police to work with ICE, help with deportations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Some Tennessee Republicans are urging every local and state law enforcement agency to enter into a 287(g) agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help the federal government in its effort to deport illegal immigrants. A 287(g) agreement gives local law enforcement officers certain federal powers that allow them to detain and investigate undocumented immigrants. 'The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 added Section 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) — authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency's direction and oversight,' ICE's website reads. Rep. Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) called upon all agencies in Tennessee to enter into the agreement Monday. 'We need more than strong words. We need local action as well, so to every police chief, every sheriff, every mayor, every county commissioner, now is the time to enter into a 287(g) agreement with ICE. It's a simple partnership that lets local law officers identify and detain criminal illegal aliens. It's legal, it works, and it will save lives.' According to ICE, eight Tennessee agencies currently have a 287(g) agreement. The majority of the agencies are sheriff's offices, in addition to the TN Dept. of Homeland Security and THP. Three additional state agencies currently have pending 287(g) applications, according to ICE. During a special legislative session in January, lawmakers passed a bill incentivizing departments to participate in the program by offering grants to those who take part. 'This legislation further appropriated $20 million to facilitate participation in the 287g program to make our brave men and women even more effective in that partnership,' Senate Majority Leader, Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said. Congressman Andy Ogles confirms federal investigation into Nashville mayor's office over illegal immigration A bill that would have required all law enforcement agencies to take part in the program failed during the regular legislative session. Some immigrant rights groups worry that the more departments work with ICE, the more harm it could cause. 'What we have seen time and time again with programs like the 287(g) program is the erroding of trust between our immigrant communities and local law enforcement, the siphoning away of local taxpayer dollars for civil rights lawsuits, racial profiling, and we have seen this not only here in the past in Nashville, but across the state of Tennessee,' Luis Mata with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said. Davidson County ended its 287(g) agreement with ICE in 2012 following controversy and a lawsuit over the handling of a pregnant woman who gave birth while shackled in county custody. It's unclear if the agency plans to enter into a new contract with ICE. However, Republican lawmakers told reporters the 287(g) agreement saves lives. ⏩ 'This isn't about politics, it's about protecting our families,' Rep. Reeves said. 'It's not about immigration, it's about crime. It's not a border crisis, it is a community crisis.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee bill would invalidate out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee lawmakers are steering toward legislation that would render certain out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants invalid. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Lee Reeves (R-Franklin) and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin), would make driver's licenses specifically issued to undocumented immigrants invalid in Tennessee. It would also become a Class B misdemeanor to have such a license in the state. 'I know my voters and my constituents and indeed, Tennessee citizens who I represent want us to address this issue, and I know many in this body have heard the same thing from their voters and citizens in their district,' Rep Reeves said on the House floor. 📧 Have breaking news come to you: → The bill would only apply to out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants that contain a marking indicating them as such. According to Rep. Reeves, almost 20 states issue driver's licenses to undocumented people, but only two — Connecticut and Delaware — include a specific mark on the license. 'The bill ensures only valid, lawful IDs are accepted on Tennessee roads,' Rep. Reeves said. On the House floor, Democrats argued the bill could lead to a loss of tourism dollars and issues with interstate trade. Others compared the measure to Nazi law. 'Daily life, such as driving a car, became criminal for the wrong people holding the wrong papers,' Rep. Afytn Behn (D-Nashville) said. 'Mark Twain said history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Today, we're being asked to consider a bill that criminalizes people not based on their conduct but the kind of driver's license they carry.' While some brought up potential legal issues with the bill, Rep. Reeves said Florida passed a similar law in 2023 and hasn't had any legal challenges. 'Tennessee is pretty clearly distinguishable from the state of Florida, because you drive to Florida. You don't drive through Florida,' Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) said. 'With respect to people driving through or around, I would simply suggest that they go around Tennessee,' Rep. Reeves responded. The bill passed the House floor April 3 with clear partisan divides on display. 'Oh boy, today is a day for the far left on the House floor,' House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said, which was met with jeers from the gallery. 'If you don't like that, you're going to love this. The sign coming into Tennessee says, ' Welcome to Tennessee.' Illegal immigrants are not welcome.' On the Senate side, Republicans argued these licenses shouldn't be valid because the people carrying them aren't legally in the country. In a Senate Transportation Committee hearing on the bill, Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) debated Ashley Warbington, a woman who testified against the bill, calling out her use of the word 'undocumented' versus 'illegal.' 'No person is illegal,' Warbington said. 'You can be in the country illegally,' Sen. Taylor said. 'All I'm saying is if they're undocumented and they're present in the country illegally, they're not undocumented, they're actually illegal.' ⏩ The bill will be debated on the Senate floor April 7. If it passes, it will be sent to Gov. Bill Lee's desk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
