A Tennessee state lawmaker has put forth a new bill that would require law enforcement to redirect illegal migrants accused of minor crimes to sanctuary cities instead of deporting them to their home countries. State Rep. Todd Warner, a Republican, introduced the Tennessee Illegal Immigration Act ahead of the upcoming legislative session.
The proposed legislation aims to streamline the handling of illegal migrants by ensuring that all law enforcement agencies report them to federal immigration authorities. Rep. Warner believes that sending migrants to sanctuary cities could potentially be a more cost-effective solution for the state compared to deportation.
Warner emphasized that the primary goal of the bill is to enhance public safety in Tennessee while holding the federal government accountable for enforcing immigration laws. Additionally, the lawmaker hopes that the state can recover some of the associated costs through this initiative.
According to the bill, if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fails to collect an illegal migrant within 48 hours of their detention, local law enforcement would assist in transferring them to a sanctuary city. The responsibility of relocating the detained migrants would fall on the arresting agency.
To cover the expenses related to this process, Warner proposed withholding funds that Tennessee generates for the federal government through the gas tax. He clarified that the bill would only apply to illegal migrants charged with minor offenses, ensuring that violent criminals remain subject to deportation.
Warner stressed that the bill targets individuals involved in victimless crimes and not those who have committed serious offenses. He acknowledged that further adjustments may be necessary to refine the legislation but expressed optimism about receiving bipartisan support in the state legislature.
