Tennessee Moves to Require Proof of Legal Status for Vehicle Registration in 2027

by Kaitlin Housler | Aug 31, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

The Tennessee Department of Revenue issued guidance Wednesday regarding an upcoming change requiring Tennesseans to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful presence when applying for the initial registration of motor vehicles beginning January 1, 2027. The...

Rep. Andy Ogles Introduces Bill Banning All Pregnant Noncitizens from Entering the U.S.

by Zachery Schmidt | Jul 1, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee

A new congressional bill proposal seeks to prevent pregnant women who are noncitizens from entering America. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision in Trump v. Barbara, struck down a President Donald Trump executive order that sought to outlaw birthright...

Tennessee Senate Passes Bill Criminalizing Ignoring Deportation Orders

by Zachery Schmidt | Apr 7, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Illegal immigrants in Tennessee who fail to leave the state after being issued a final federal deportation order may be charged with a crime for not leaving the state. The Tennessee State Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 1779, which would create a misdemeanor crime for...

Bill Seeks Expanded State Reporting on Migrant Crime

by Zachery Schmidt | Mar 3, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a bill on Monday to increase reporting of migrant crime nationwide. Under the Migrant Crime Reporting Act (MCRA), the federal government would provide states with grant funding to gather and review data from state law...

Tennessee Panel Weighs Bill Targeting Those Ignoring Deportation Orders

by Zachery Schmidt | Feb 16, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

The Tennessee House Judiciary Committee will hear a bill on Wednesday attempting to create a criminal charge for an illegal immigrant who fails to leave Tennessee after a final deportation order. The state House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed House Bill (HB)...

Report: Over 11,000 Suspected Illegals Charged with Crimes in Tennessee Last Year

by Zachery Schmidt | Feb 2, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee had 11,344 reports of suspected illegal immigrants who were charged or convicted of a crime in 2025, according to a new report. The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) released a report last week, examining crimes committed by potential...

Tennesseans Accused of Harboring Illegal Aliens, Impeding ICE

by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 28, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Two Tennessee contractors at a Knoxville construction site face criminal charges for their alleged actions during a federal immigration raid. Authorities charged Tyler Shane Wells, 33, and Alexander Bonilla-Servin, 18, last week with harboring illegal immigrants for...

Exclusive: Senator Blackburn Explains How the GOP Health Plan Puts Money in Americans’ Hands

by Zachery Schmidt | Dec 16, 2025 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told The Tennessee Star in an exclusive interview that the new Republicans’ bill proposal would send money back to Americans rather than to insurance companies. Last week, Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced the Health Care Freedom for...

Chinese Couple in Tennessee Pleads Guilty to Harboring and Employing Illegals

by Zachery Schmidt | Dec 8, 2025 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

A Chinese married couple in Tennessee pleaded guilty last week to harboring illegal immigrants and employing them. Xue Rong Wu, 44, and Xiong Wei Yang, 44, who live in Elizabethton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to harbor aliens for the purpose of commercial advantage...

Knox County Considers Opposing Bill Proposal Requiring Schools to Keep Track of Students’ Immigration Records

by Zachery Schmidt | Dec 2, 2025 | Education, News, Tennessee, The South

The Knoxville County Board of Education is considering opposing a bill that would require Tennessee schools to keep track of students’ immigration status. On Thursday, the board of education will vote on its 2026 legislative priorities, including one that asks the...