9/30/1996 |
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IRIRA) | Nation-wide |
Passed |
Added 287(g) to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) | 287(g) permits partnerships between local law enforcement agencies and Homeland Security. It authorizes officers to perform immigration law enforcement services provided that the officers receive appropriate training under the supervision of sworn US Immigration officers. The partnership provides local law enforcement officials with the necessary resources and authority to pursue investigations relating to violent crimes, human smuggling, gang/organized crime, sexual offenses, narcotics smuggling and money laundering. |
1998 |
State-wide |
Passed |
Prior to 1998, applicants for a TN Driver’s License were only required to show proof of residency. In 1998, the US Congress required many state agencies to collect SSNs as a way to track fathers who were not paying child support. Many states interpreted the law to say that you needed a SSN to access certain government services. If you didn’t have a SSN, you would need to sign an affidavit saying you didn’t. | Applicants for a TN Driver License are required to provide a social security number to get a driver license | |
May-01 |
TN Public Acts 158 | State-wide |
Passed |
TN Drops the Social Security requirement to receive a Driver’s License. Allows would-be motorists to obtain a license by providing an address for proof of residency, signing an affidavit stating they had never obtained a Social Security number, and passing standard driving tests. | |
27-May-03 |
Public Acts Chapter 351 | State-wide |
Passed |
Signed into law by Governor Bredesen on June 13, 2003. | Matricula consular cards (IDs issued by the Government of Mexico to Mexican nationals residing outside of Mexico, regardless of their emigration status) are no longer accepted by the Department of Safety as proof of identification for driver’s license application and issuance purposes |
Jan-04 |
“No I.D. for Illegal Immigrants” Bill | State-wide |
Passed |
State Sen. Bill Ketron alleges measure would prevent illegal aliens from taking advantage of TennCare and other state services, improve homeland security and curb identity theft. | Requires social security number or other proof of legal residency, such as Immigration and Naturalization Service documents, resident alien cards, and military papers issued by a foreign country, before issuance of a driver’s license or state certified ID. |
Jul-04 |
Certificate for Driving (CFD) Program | State-wide |
Passed |
Developed as a compromise with Sen. Bill Ketron, Governor Bredesen created the CFD program as a moderate solution to unlicensed immigrant drivers | Provided undocumented persons with a lawful way to operate a motor vehicle. Each applicant was required to pass a knowledge test on TN traffic laws as well as on on-road skills test. A CFD was not able to be used as a legal ID. |
11-May-05 |
Real ID Act of 2005 | Nation-wide |
Passed but enforcement postponed
until 2011 |
On March 27, 2007, it was announced that enforcement of the Act would be postponed for two years, until December 2009. On January 11, 2008 the deadline was extended until 2011. | The Real ID Act requires nation-wide, specific driver’s license standards including how states must share their databases, what data must be included on the card, and what documentation must be presented before a card can be issued. Each card must include the person’s full legal name, signature, date of birth, gender, driver’s license/identification number, a photograph of the person’s face, and the principal residence address. Digital images of each document required to receive an ID will be kept in a DMV database and states are required to verify the validity of each document. The only foreign document acceptable is a foreign passport. Allows for states to offer “not for federal ID” licenses to those who can’t prove legal status. The bill also imposes stricter standards of proof for individuals applying for asylum or immigration. |
Nov-05 |
Proposed ban on Food Wagons | Local |
Failed |
Introduced by Metro Council members who say they were acting in the interest of restaurateurs who had called them and cited health concerns with the food wagons | City considered a ban on taco trucks and other mobile food wagons located mainly in immigrant areas. Law would have allowed the operation of food vendors at temporary special events and would not apply to street vendors such as hot dog carts. |
2006 |
Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 | National |
Failed |
Introduced in April 2006. Passed the US Senate on May 25th but failed to pass the conference committee so did not become law. | This bill would have awarded amnesty to about 10.2 million illegal aliens, increased border security, and introduced a new “blue card” visa program. This new visa program would have increased the number of guest workers present in the U.S. |
February
24th, 2006 |
Suspension of CFD Program | State-wide |
Safety Department suspends the program | After March 5th, 2006, applicants must prove legal status in the US to receive a license. Current CFD’s are not revoked but will not be renewed until program is reinstated. Licenses are issued with valid student or work visas that will expire at the same time as the visa. | |
Sep-06 |
Hazelton Ordinance | Local |
Failed |
Councilman Eric Crafton introduced legislation. Approved by Metro Council in 2007 but vetoed by then-mayor Bill Purcell | Introduced English-Only. Proposal to make English the city’s official language and requiring the Nashville government to communicate only in English. |
Oct-06 |
Local |
Failed |
Proposed to Metro Council | Bar landlords from collecting rent from illegal immigrants and ban those landlords from renting at all in the county if caught renting to illegal aliens. | |
| * If Metro Council had passed the proposal, they could not have been legally enforced unless the state legislature changed current state law | |||||
Oct-06 |
Local |
Failed |
Proposed to Metro Council | Suspend the business license of employers who hire illegal immigrants. | |
| * If Metro Council had passed the proposal, they could not have been legally enforced unless the state legislature changed current state law | |||||
2007 |
TN Immigration Compliance Act | State-wide |
Failed |
Passed State House but never taken up in State Senate | Would require employers to verify the legal statues of their workers and enforce stiffer penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. |
2007 |
CFD program eliminated | State-wide |
|||
Apr-07 |
287(g) program instated | State-wide |
Passed |
Based on the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 | Initially designed to help take people with serious criminal histories off the streets, 287(g) allows police to check on the immigration status of arrestees. If an arrestee is found to be in the country illegally, the person is most often deported, regardless of the reason for the arrest. Critics say the bill reinforces racial profiling. |
2008 |
TN Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2008 | State-wide |
Failed |
Mirrored similar laws passed in the state of Oklahoma. Passed the House but never acted upon in the State Senate. | Requires all government agencies and public schools to check immigration documents prior to issuing IDs; Creates excise tax penalties for employers of undocumented workers. |
2008 |
287(g) | State-wide |
In first 12 months of the 287(g) program, 3,000 arrestees were found to be here illegally and most of those were deported. About 80% of the 3,000 deported were arrested on misdemeanor offenses. An estimated 25% were arrested on charges of driving without a license. About 20% were charged with felonies, the type of crimes that led to the program. Most arrestees had committed traffic misdemeanors and only 38% had previous arrest records, mostly misdemeanors. About 62% went to jail for the first time. | To cut down on racial profiling, the Sheriff’s Immigration Advisory Committee urges the sheriff to set stricter guidelines for which arrestees undergo interrogation, instead of subjecting it to anyone who is foreign-born. | |
1-Jan-08 |
Public Chapter 529 – Illegal Alien Employment Act | State-wide |
Passed |
Amends Section 50-1-103 | No longer a state criminal offense to knowingly hire undocumented workers. It is instead a civil violation. |
May-08 |
TN Racial Profile Prevention Act | State-wide |
Passed |
Signed into law by Governor Phil Bredsen on May 19th, 2008 | Strongly encourages all local law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies to prevent racial profiling by 2010 |
Dec-08 |
Protecting English in the Workplace Act | Nation-wide |
Failed |
Proposed by US Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) | Designed to give extra protection to those business owners who choose to require all employees speak English while at work |
22-Jan-09 |
English Only Ordinance | Local |
Failed |
Reintroduced by Eric Crafton in 2008. Defeated in a special vote 57-43% | Proposal to make English the city’s official language and requiring the Nashville government to communicate only in English. Would limit access to governmental services for immigrants and refugees. |
19-May-09 |
“We Want to Learn English Initiative” | State-wide |
In process |
Passed Senate; On House Consent Calendar 5/18/2009 | Bill requires the department of labor and workforce development, in conjunction with the dept. education, to establish and administer a grant program which will provide resources for immigrants and refugees in TN to learn English |
Proposed
Bills for 2009 |
|||||
| TN Immigration Compliance Act | State-wide |
In process |
Senate version currently in general subcommittee of State and Local Government | Section 3: Local jailors must subject certain arrestees to special scrutiny if the person is believed to be a foreign national. | |
| Section 9: Requires that state and local employees check immigration status for government services while not actually affecting eligibility for these programs. Undocumented immigrants are barred from most government services, except those mandated by federal law. | |||||
| TN Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2009 | State-wide |
In process |
Copycat bill of the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007. Senate version currently in general subcommittee of State and Local Government. | Would require that all government agencies and public schools check immigration documents prior to issuing IDs; requires public colleges and universities verify immigration status for the purposes of residency requirements and in-state tuition | |
| SB1141/HB0670 | State-wide |
In process |
Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 05/19/2009; Passed House. | Would require local jailers to inspect citizenship and immigration documents of every person arrested to determine immigration status | |
| SB0469/HB0480 | State-wide |
Failed |
Passed Senate 03/30/2009. Failed Consumer & Employee Affairs Committee 5/5/2009 | Would declare that it is not a discriminatory practice under state law for an employer to institute an English-only policy in the employer’s workplace | |
| SB0063/HB0262 | State-wide |
In process |
Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Transportation on 04/21/2009 | Would require that all written examinations for driver license or intermediate driver license be in English. | |
| Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2009 | National |
In process |
Believed to have significant support among the current legislation. | The Obama administration wants to remove incentives to enter the US illegally, beef up border security and work with Mexico to cut down on illegal immigration. As a senator, Obama supported legislation that would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. | |
| SB1241/HB0817 | State-wide |
In process |
Taken off Notice House Health Care Facilities subcommittee 5/6/2009, Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources committee 4/29/2009 | Would prohibit registration of a birth certificate for a child of an illegal immigrant mother unless the father is a US citizen and he provides a written agreement for financial support of child until age 18 | |
Proposed
for 2010 |
SB1237/HB0808 | State-wide |
House Higher Education Subcommittee 2010 | Seeks to create immigration barriers by making higher education inaccessible to children of undocumented immigrants. Bill would require school officials to inspect immigration documents |