Republican Leaders React to 2025 Report Highlighting Crimes Committed by Illegal Aliens in Tennessee

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

Republican leaders in the Tennessee General Assembly are pointing to a newly released 2025 report as evidence they say underscores the need for tougher state-level enforcement on illegal immigration and closer cooperation with federal authorities. The report, released...

More than 6,200 Illegal Aliens Removed from Tennessee, Senate Majority Leader Says

by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 19, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) said over 6,200 illegal aliens have been removed from the Volunteer State “due to the efforts of President Donald Trump.” Johnson posted a video on social media Saturday citing a report that he said names...

Pappert Praises ‘Landmark’ Tennessee GOP Immigration Package as National Model

by Kaitlin Housler | Jan 17, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, characterized the Tennessee Republican immigration package as a “landmark,” comprehensive effort that reflects how GOP leadership in the state prefers to operate: unveiling a fully formed agenda rather than piecemeal...

Tennessee Bill Would Make Law Enforcement Comply with Immigration Detainers

by Zachery Schmidt | Jan 13, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

A new bill looks to strengthen immigration enforcement in Tennessee. State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1486, which would require local law enforcement agencies to “accept and honor” federal immigration detainers. According to U.S....

Mayor O’Connell Seems to Suggest He Considers Nashville a Sanctuary City

by Brian Wilson | May 6, 2025 | Justice, News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

In a hurriedly-called press conference on Monday, Mayor Freddie O’Connell – without using the exact phrase – laid out his position that the City of Nashville is essentially a sanctuary city. Mayor O’Connell said he is “heartbroken” State and Federal law enforcement...

Tennessee Governor Appoints State’s First Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 18, 2025 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed long-time law enforcement veteran Ryan Hubbard to serve as the state’s first-ever chief immigration enforcement officer. The chief immigration enforcement officer will lead the Tennessee Chief Immigration Enforcement Division...

Immigration Expert Urges Congress to Pass Special Interest Aliens Bill

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 15, 2025 | National, News, Policy, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show

Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, supports a bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), which would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to report how many special interest...

Tennessee General Assembly Passes Bill to Invalidate Out-of-State Driver Licenses Issued Exclusively to Illegal Aliens

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 14, 2025 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill last week that would invalidate out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens and make it a misdemeanor offense to operate motor vehicles in the state with such licenses. The bill, HB0749/SB1086, passed...

Legal Expert Advises President Trump to Draft an Executive Order on Sanctuary Cities

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 27, 2025 | Justice, National, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show

Phill Kline, former Kansas Attorney General and current law professor at Liberty University School of Law, said he would advise President Donald Trump to draft his forthcoming executive order on sanctuary cities surrounding the withholding of funds to avoid legal...

Immigration Expert Todd Bensman Says Trump Policies Having a ‘Magical Effect’ on Illegal Crossings

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 17, 2025 | National, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, World

Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, recently returned from touring the U.S.-Mexico border last week where he said President Donald Trump’s immigration policies have had a “magical effect” when it comes to the dramatic...