State-Level Immigration Enforcement

The Tennessee Senate has approved, by a 26–6 vote, a bill that would make it a Class A misdemeanor for non‑citizens with final federal deportation orders to remain in the state more than 90 days, following earlier House passage by a 73–22 margin. Sponsored by House Majority Leader William Lamberth, the measure also creates a separate Class A misdemeanor for migrants who re‑enter or attempt to re‑enter Tennessee after being deported, with penalties of up to 11 months and 29 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Lamberth explicitly framed the bill as a direct test of long‑standing limits on state immigration enforcement, saying that once all federal appeals are exhausted, it would be illegal under both federal and state law for those individuals to stay in Tennessee. Immigration advocates and some legal experts warn the law could conflict with federal supremacy over immigration, burden local courts and jails, and invite constitutional challenges, while supporters argue it will deter violations and fill an enforcement vacuum they blame on Washington. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, has not yet indicated whether he will sign the measure, which could become an early test case for a broader GOP strategy to expand state‑level penalties tied to federal immigration proceedings.