The Tennessee State House will vote on a bill next week that would help local law enforcement agencies combat illegal immigration.
State representatives will debate House Bill (HB) 2018, which was introduced by State Representative Mark Cochran (R-Englewood).
HB 2018 requires local law enforcement agencies to comply with all federal immigration detainer requests.
These detainers would permit local law enforcement agencies to delay the release of illegal immigrants and hold them for up to an additional 48 hours. The extra time does not include the weekends or holidays.
Before releasing an illegal immigrant, local law enforcement would need to notify federal immigration authorities to give them a chance to take the person into custody.
The bill proposal would also allow local law enforcement agencies to join the federal 287(g) program without the approval of the city council or county boards.
The 287(g) program delegates specific immigration officer functions to local and state law enforcement agencies that have received proper training.
Tennessee currently has 63 different state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the program.
The fiscal impact of the bill proposal would cost Tennessee almost $3 million in the fiscal year 2026-2027. Furthermore, it would cost the Volunteer State almost $5.5 million in fiscal year 2027-2028 and subsequent years.
The State Senate is considering HB 2018’s companion bill: Senate Bill (SB) 1486, which was introduced by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis).
This week, the State Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee voted 9-1 to advance SB 1486 to a full floor vote.
At the hearing, Taylor said some local jurisdictions would notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but then not hold the illegal immigrants for the additional 48 hours.
In SB 1486, an amendment was added that would apply only to local law enforcement agencies with a 287(g) agreement with the federal government, according to Taylor.
He noted this amendment reduces SB 1486’s fiscal impact to “not significant.”
If this bill becomes law, it will take effect on July 1st.
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
