A newly proposed bill in Tennessee aims to redirect undocumented immigrants accused of minor offenses to sanctuary cities instead of initiating deportation procedures. Republican State Representative Todd Warner introduced the Tennessee Illegal Immigration Act ahead of the upcoming legislative session. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies report undocumented immigrants to federal immigration authorities.

Rep. Warner suggests that transporting individuals to sanctuary cities could be more cost-effective for Tennessee than international deportation, even if the federal government ultimately bears the deportation expenses. He emphasized the bill's objectives to enhance safety in Tennessee, pressure the federal government to enforce immigration laws, and enable the state to recover some associated costs.

The proposed legislation stipulates that if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) doesn't take custody of a detained undocumented immigrant within 48 hours, local law enforcement would facilitate their transfer to a sanctuary city. The arresting agency would bear the responsibility and cost of this relocation, potentially funded by withholding a portion of Tennessee's gas tax revenue that typically goes to the federal government.

Rep. Warner intends to amend the bill to explicitly apply only to individuals charged with minor offenses, excluding those accused of violent crimes, who would still face deportation. He clarified that the bill targets victimless crimes.

However, Hannah Smalley, an advocate for immigrant rights, argues that the bill could lead to unnecessary family separations, causing harm regardless of criminal charges. She points out that immigrants already face legal consequences for crimes committed in the U.S., and penalizing them further based solely on immigration status is counterproductive.

While acknowledging the need for further refinements, Rep. Warner hopes the bill will garner bipartisan support in the legislature.