Latest news with #TennesseeImmigrantandRefugeeRightsCoalition
Axios
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Traffic stops scrutinized in neighborhood with many immigrants
Nashville progressive leaders and immigrant advocacy groups decried a large-scale traffic stop operation over the weekend targeting a heavily Hispanic neighborhood. Why it matters: The coordinated operation between federal and state officers in South Nashville came amid President Trump's hardline stance on immigration. The big picture: Nashville leaders have worked to cultivate the city's reputation as being welcoming to immigrants. Last year, activists and politicians gathered to celebrate the 15th anniversary of voters rejecting a ballot measure to make English the city government's official language. What they're saying: "Arbitrarily rounding up parents on their way home and workers traveling to their jobs does not make Nashville safer or stronger," Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition executive director Lisa Sherman Luna said in a statement. "Instead it shatters families, erodes trust in law enforcement, and leads to fear, trauma and isolation that weakens the collective fabric of our community." Following the raids, protesters gathered Sunday at the Nashville Department of Homeland Security facility. Nashville police officers were on hand for crowd control during the protest, Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office said in a statement. Driving the news: The Tennessee Highway Patrol collaborated with officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security to make about 150 traffic stops in the early morning hours on Sunday, according to a state spokesperson. In some cases, federal agents enforced immigration-related matters during the stops. State troopers made a few arrests for outstanding warrants, according to the spokesperson. At least 20 people were "impacted" by ICE activity, according to a press release from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Zoom out: Earlier this year, the Legislature passed legislation that created a state immigration enforcement office, provided grants to local law enforcement and made it a felony for local officials to back sanctuary city policies. Republican lawmakers said their legislation would allow the state to assist in Trump's immigration crackdown. The other side:"THP officers should be focused on roadway safety, not detaining parents heading to drop their kids off at daycare or pulling over residents based on their appearance, language, or neighborhood," state Rep. Aftyn Behn, a Nashville Democrat, said in a statement.
Axios
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Recapping Tennessee's 2025 legislative session
Tennessee's legislative session ended Tuesday night, with lawmakers sending a final wave of bills to the governor's desk. Here's a recap of some top stories from the session. 🍎 Immigrant education bill stalled One of the most talked-about pieces of legislation this year was a measure that would have allowed public school districts to refuse to teach undocumented immigrants. The bill was an explicit attempt to challenge a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires public schools to admit students regardless of their immigration status. The plan faced heavy opposition from immigrant rights advocates, educators and even some Republicans. The legislation faltered in the waning days of the session, as Republican support splintered and concerns emerged that it could jeopardize federal education funding. Yes, but: Advocates at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said the bill could easily be revived in 2026. "All of our organizing actually has to scale up over the summer to ensure that if this bill comes back next session we are ready to defeat it," TIRRC executive director Lisa Sherman Luna said. The big picture: The bill was emblematic of the ways many Tennessee Republicans have embraced President Trump's hardline positions on immigration, diversity and other issues. 🗳️ Felon voting rights Tennessee law currently requires felons who've lost their voting rights to get their gun rights back before they can restore their voting rights. A new bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Bill Lee this month would change that so that people could get their voting rights restored first. But they would still have to convince a judge to restore their voting rights. ⚖️ Innocence claims The Tennessee Innocence Project praised another bill heading to Lee's desk that would provide a path for people who plead guilty to a crime to later bring new evidence of their innocence to court. Between the lines: Some people who maintain their innocence choose to plead guilty for a deal or other reasons. Bill sponsor Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) said this would create an option for them if significant evidence emerges after their plea, per the Tennessean. 🩺 Fertility treatment protections Lawmakers passed a bill protecting fertility treatments, like IVF, and contraception. What we're watching: As the bill awaits Lee's signature, a group of 11 Republican House members are calling on him to veto it.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tennessee Senate wants to kick undocumented kids out of school
It's fundamentally cruel to turn away children from public schools based on their immigration status, but the Tennessee Senate advanced a bill that would let its schools do just that. State Sen. Bo Watson has argued that his legislation is about easing financial pressure on school districts, but the bill is more about scapegoating immigrant communities and forcing needless suffering upon their kids. 'Our education system has limited resources, which should be prioritized for students who are legally present in the country,' Watson said earlier this year. Referring to local education agencies, he said, 'An influx of illegal immigration can strain LEAs and put significant pressure on their budgets.' He said his bill empowers local governments to manage their resources more effectively and 'builds upon the legislative action taken during the special session to address illegal immigration at the local level.' The bill that the Tennessee Senate passed is a direct challenge to Plyler v. Doe, the 1982 Supreme Court ruling that stopped Texas' plan to let local school districts either deny admission to undocumented schoolchildren or charge them tuition. In a 5-4 ruling, the court said the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause means that all children in this country have access to public education. Justice William J. Brennan Jr. noted in the majority opinion that the provisions of the equal protection clause are 'universal in their application, to all persons within the territorial jurisdiction, without regard to any differences of race, color, or nationality.' Plyler v. Doe made clear that these protections apply to all 'people' within the United States, not just citizens. This principle has been central to the law for more than four decades and has prevented states from using immigration status to deprive children of their right to attend public school. But, as you might imagine, the battle over Plyler v. Doe has never truly ended. Republican lawmakers and conservative legal groups have repeatedly pushed to overturn it and dismantle the protections it provides. For them, erasing Plyler is not just about reversing a single Supreme Court case; it's also about stripping away a core pillar of the 14th Amendment's promise. Similar bills have been proposed in Texas and Oklahoma. Tennessee's bill has now been moved to its lower chamber, and immigrant communities across the state are fighting to stop it from becoming law. Lisa Sherman Luna, the executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, told me in an email: 'Even in the face of unrelenting attacks on their humanity, immigrant families have responded to this latest threat to their children's futures with power, not panic.' She said, 'Tennesseans across race, class, and immigration status recognize the harm these policies would have not only on the children of our state but the entire nation, and have been calling their lawmakers, showing up in committees, and organizing actions in districts to make sure their voices were heard.' Local parents and educators have also been vocal in their opposition. 'I am Latino. My kids have Latino names. And while this bill is targeted directly towards immigrants, it's primarily, in my opinion, targeted towards the Latino community.' Hamilton County teacher Kyle Carrasco said. 'So I fear, just in general, that they'll have to kind of negotiate some of these stigmas.' 'Unchecked illegal migration over the past three years has possibly cost the public education system billions of dollars,' according to a 2024 post from the Heritage Foundation. 'Large influxes of non-English-speaking children also have a negative effect on the classroom. Not only must the federal government secure the border and prevent illegal migration, but states can, and must, also take action.' What Watson and the Heritage Foundation don't acknowledge is the undeniable human cost of kicking children out of schools. And the cost to the United States if we normalize the idea that the circumstances of their birth define children's worth. Kica Matos, president of the National Immigration Law Center, said in an email that, 'We're seeing a groundswell of opposition to this extreme bill, and we're going to keep fighting to make sure it doesn't pass. But if it does, we're ready to respond accordingly.' A fundamental promise of the 14th Amendment is that all people will be afforded equal protection under the law. That's what's at stake here. It's not the only place it's at stake, obviously, but in this case, conservatives — and not for the first time — are seeking to block the schoolhouse doors to children. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds protest at Tennessee Capitol as undocumented students bill remains in limbo
Hundreds marched across downtown Nashville to the Tennessee Capitol to protest a bill that would ultimately allow Tennessee public schools to deny undocumented children a free education. The bill has been the most controversial of this legislative session and faces an uncertain path forward. Several children led the way as the march began in Public Square Park around 12:30 p.m. April 14 carrying a banner that read "education is a right," marked with dozens of handprints in multi-colored paint. The protesters chanted as they worked their way to the Capitol, flanked by police and guides in neon vests. The chants included things like: "Whose kids? Our kids?" and "What do we want? Education! When do we want it? Now!" Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, said she was moved by how many turned out on the 85-degree day. Several advocates from other states also gathered for the rally. "They recognize that the fight is not just about Tennessee," she said. Top GOP leaders in the Tennessee legislature said the bill is an attempt to challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires free and equal education for all students, regardless of immigration status. The House signaled Monday the bill could be in trouble. In a finance subcommittee, the bill was placed "behind the budget," where hundreds of bills a year are moved when they haven't received financial approval in the central budget appropriations. Moving behind the budget is often a death sentence for a bill. The bill has backing from some of the most powerful Republicans in the chamber, though, and the legislation is still procedurally alive. Still, the bill may be running out of time. Though leadership says they'll take whatever time they need to wrap up the remainder of legislative session, the general consensus around the Capitol is both chambers hope to conclude by next week as soon as the budget is approved. Additionally, the House and Senate versions of the bill remain at odds. The Senate passed its version of the bill on April 10 as protesters filled the gallery and the Capitol halls. But even if the House version survives to a full floor vote, the Senate and House would likely have to go into a negotiation committee to hash out their differences. To date, neither the Senate nor the House sponsor of the bills have indicated they're willing to compromise on a core tenet of the legislation: whether or not Tennessee schools should be mandated to collect immigration status proof. Along the way Monday, the group stopped to rally at Beth Harwell Plaza and the steps of the Capitol before marching a few laps around the building as they chanted. Several immigrants, including children, advocates and others, spoke during the rally as it progressed. Logan Nichols, 8, took a moment to sit in the shade with his mom and younger sister. He lives in the Tusculum neighborhood in Nashville and has friends and neighbors from other countries. "I wanted to come because I didn't like that everyone from other countries couldn't get an education," he said. "It's pretty horrible." Elena Roser, an Ashland City resident who retired in 2018 after teaching for 45 years, walked along with the crowd as it snaked its way through town. She said when children are denied an education, the consequences extend far beyond them and into society as a whole. "I think this issue is really about creating wedges between people and fear," she said. "It really has no basis in reality." This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee undocumented students bill: Hundreds protest at Capitol
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee Sen. Bo Watson draws backlash from business leaders in his district for bill targeting immigrant students
A Tennessee senator is drawing rebuke from business owners in his own district for a controversial bill targeting undocumented students. The Tennessee Small Business Alliance, a statewide small business advocacy organization, condemned SB 836 which would require all schools in Tennessee to verify children have legal immigration or visa status prior to enrolling. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, who has has argued undocumented students are potentially a financial drain on Tennessee school resources, citing a rise in English language learners in the state. The accompanying house bill, sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, would not impose requirements on local schools, the Tennessean previously reported. In a statement, small business owner and constituent of Watson, Kelly Fitzgerald, said the bill is "not something legislators should be spending their resources on when there are much larger issues at hand in the current environment." "We should leave children out of the conversation," she added. The legislation, if passed, would open the door for policies that could "deprive millions of undocumented students across the country of their right to an education" said the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition in a social media post. "The ripple effects would be devastating, not only for Tennessee's schools and communities but for our nation's future workforce, economy and core values," read the post. On Tuesday, April 1, the Senate Finance committee voted 7-4 to advance SB 836. Here's what else to know about the bill and why it has become one of the most fiercely contested pieces of legislation that Tennessee lawmakers are debating this session. Earlier this month, Fitzgerald joined 20 other business owners in urging Watson to abandon the bill. In a statement, she described the legislation as a "political stunt that's cruel, economically reckless and completely out of step with local values." "My children are receiving a great education in our public schools, and I want every child to have the same rights and opportunities as mine do," she said. "Do our representatives believe that undocumented children — who had no say in their immigration status — should be denied a public education, even though their families already pay taxes that fund our schools?' On April 1, over 20 Chattanooga-area businesses condemned the bill, disputing Watson and Lambeth's claims that the bill addresses fiscal concerns. The bill's fiscal note states the proposed legislation may jeopardize federal funding to the state and to local governments, however, exact impacts remain uncertain due to "unknown factors." In 2023, Tennessee received a total of $3,368,495,310 in federal funding. "Going after children to deny them an education when he knows it is already paid for by immigrants in our state isn't just cruel — it's unethical, fiscally irresponsible, and politically desperate," said the alliance in a statement. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been critical toward SB 836 and the companion House bill. On Monday, Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, sided with Democrats to oppose the bill. House Democratic Caucus Chair John Ray Clemmons, D-Nashville, slammed the bill, calling it a drain on state resources. "Our country has a broken immigration system. This isn't going to fix it. It's going to discriminate against innocent children who have no idea if they're undocumented or not," Clemmons said. "This is an education bill about punishing innocent children." Despite both bills firmly advancing in the General Assembly, final votes will likely not fall along party lines reported the Tennessean. Since being introduced, committee meetings have drawn hundreds of impassioned protestors. One protestor, Lynne McFarland, was arrested by Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers earlier this month and later carried away from her seat and to a patrol car. Contributing: Melissa Brown 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: Tennessee bill targeting immigrant students draws business backlash
