Tennessee law enforcement is now required to verify the citizenship status of detainees and inform the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference if someone is found to be in the country illegally.
Governor Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 757 on Tuesday, with the law set to take effect on July 1.
This bill is part of a duo of legislative measures that Senator Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, believes will aid the state in suing the federal government over the financial burden of illegal immigration in Tennessee.
The other measure, House Bill 2774, was signed previously by Governor Lee.
Senate Bill 757 mandates that local law enforcement confirm detainees’ citizenship and report to the DAGC if any detainee is identified as being in the country unlawfully.
Arrested individuals must provide documentation such as a Social Security card or number, a Tennessee driver’s license or photo ID, a green card, a student visa, a valid passport, a U.S. birth certificate, or a naturalization certificate.
The law includes a stipulation that allows law enforcement to determine if a person is a homeless resident of the United States who lacks proper documentation.
