Tennessee has recently passed a law that mandates police to inform federal agents if they encounter an individual who is residing in the country illegally.
Critics are raising concerns that the enforcement of the law may lead to more problems than it can solve, while supporters argue that it is the right thing to do. The controversy surrounding the law is largely centered on the question of how it will be enforced, or if it will be enforced at all.
Federal immigration authorities must be notified by law enforcement if they encounter an individual who is undocumented. Previously a discretionary action, it is now mandatory.
A traffic stop could potentially lead to deportation, leaving individuals at risk.
Under the new law, individuals who have been residing in the country for a considerable amount of time will now be eligible for inclusion.
“Our concern with this law is that it is going to create a lot of fear in the immigrant community,” said Hannah Smalley, the Advocacy and Education coordinator of Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors. “It is something we are already seeing.”
According to Tennessee Senator Mark Pody and other supporters of the law, the primary objective behind it is to ensure safety.
“We’ve been seeing more and more cases where people are actually being assaulted and some people even being killed by those undocumented individuals,” said Sen. Pody.
According to immigration advocates, the new law is aimed at immigrant families, and the language used in the law is too vague and general.
“I think it is going to discourage people from reporting crimes,” said Smalley. “I think it increases the risk of profiling.”
Senator Pody clarified that their goal is not to target any specific group of people. Instead, they emphasize the importance of every individual obtaining legal citizenship through the appropriate channels.
According to Sen. Pody, there exists an amendment to the bill that safeguards victims or witnesses of a crime. This provision was added before the bill was signed into law.
“They would be totally exempt from this,” he said.
Is the new law going to be enforced?
According to the statement, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department has no authority to investigate or enforce immigration laws, as immigration enforcement is solely the responsibility of federal law enforcement. It is expected that the department will have no involvement in such activities.
During their standard duties, the department has confirmed that they will not inquire about an individual’s immigration status, with the exception of “U-Visa matters.”
Smalley believes that the implementation of this new law has the potential to erode the trust the public has in the police force.
“Historically, law enforcement has a longstanding practice of reporting people to immigration enforcement when they arrest and book them,” she said.
It is unclear whether the mayor’s office is in agreement with the recently passed law or if they will collaborate with MNPD to implement it as they have not provided any comments on the matter.
In a statement provided to FOX 17 News, they emphasized that the safety of all neighborhoods and residents in Nashville remains their top priority. They also stated that the new law has no impact on the policies and practices of the MNPD, and that the community should not expect any changes in how the department conducts its work in the community.