TN Governor Lee signs bill targeting illegal immigration

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed a bill requiring law enforcement agencies to communicate with federal immigration authorities if they discover people are in the the country illegally. The measure takes effect July 1st. Proponents argue that Tennessee law enforcement should assist more in immigration enforcement, immigrant advocates warned that the bill is broad and confusing and could embolden rogue officers to target immigrant families. A legislative fiscal analysis of the bill says “most, if not all, law enforcement agencies already communicate with the federal government regarding an individual’s immigration status,” citing information from the Tennessee police and sheriffs associations.