No Anti-Immigrant Bills Pass in 2013!

On Friday, April 19^th, the Tennessee General Assembly adjourned, marking the end of the first half of a two-year session. While this shorter-than-expected session will certainly be remembered for the growing pains of the new Republican supermajority, heated battles over education reform, and several mentions on national cable news, immigrant rights advocates will celebrate 2013 as a year when no anti-immigrant legislation passed.

Though a victory worth celebrating, the 2013 legislative session also forecasts the many challenges we can expect in 2014 and the expanding focus of anti-immigrant legislation in Tennessee.

Check out our full 2013 legislative review here.

We Did It! Anti-Refugee Bill Sent to "Summer Study"

Thank you to everyone who took action last week and this morning in response to the anti-refugee bill. We did it! After an incredible response from our members across the state and the advocacy of TIRRC and our partners at the legislature, members of the House State Government Committee asked tough questions about HB1326 and ultimately voted to send it to a summer study committee. This is very good news. It means that the bill will not be voted on again this year, and will likely languish in study committee until the end of session next year. 

Representative Womick's HB1326 was the latest bill in a multi-year effort to create a hostile environment for refugee families who come to Tennessee to escape persecution, work hard, and begin rebuilding their lives. HB1326 was a thinly veiled effort to stop refugee resettlement in Tennessee by defunding the Tennessee Office of Refugees (TOR) and other agencies that provide services to new refugee families. 

While most political leaders see refugee resettlement as a smart investment and an expression of our state's highest values, there are several extremist lawmakers who continue to target these vulnerable individuals and the agencies that serve them. Resettlement agencies play a vital role in helping refugee families understand Tennessee culture and get back on their feet. This bill would undermine those efforts, send an unwelcoming message to the international community, and put yet another black mark on our state's reputation. 

After the bill passed the subcommittee last week, Chairman Sanderson (R-Kenton) learned more about the plight of refugees, the role of the Tennessee Office of Refugees, and the true nature of the bill, and passionately stood up in committee for what is right. Chairman Sanderson told the committee, "This bill is smoke and mirrors. It is no more than an opportunity to stop refugee resettlement...We are punishing people who are doing the refugee resettlement because there are certain people who do not want refugees here." 

Can you take a moment to send Chairman Sanderson a thank you email? 

Please take one minute to send a thank you message to rep.bill.sanderson@capitol.tn.gov saying:

"Thank you for your courageous comments today in the House State Government Committee in opposition to HB1326. Thank you for standing up for our values of compassion and opportunity and keeping Tennessee a welcoming state." 

We are very encouraged by the committee's action today and confident in the bill's eventual demise. Thanks again for taking action! 

HB985: AG Opinion Says "Constitutionally Suspect," Delayed in House

From the Tennessean: 

"AG: Bill banning non-U.S. citizens from poll watching 'constitutionally suspect'"

Joey Garrison, The Tennessean

The state’s attorney general says pending state legislation that would prohibit non-U.S. citizens, regardless of their immigration status, from working at or even entering polling places is “constitutionally suspect.”

In an opinion released Wednesday, Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper says House Bill 985, sponsored by Rep. Judd Matheny, R-Tullahoma, and Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, would likely violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment despite the arguments of some backers.

“It is not apparent that protection of the integrity of the polling place is a rationale for this citizenship requirement, particularly when state law does not otherwise require a person to be a registered voter to perform any of these functions in the polling place,” the opinion reads.

The bill would require that poll watchers be U.S. citizens and bar non-citizens from admission to voting sites.

An amended version — which gives a special exemption authorizing non-U.S. citizens who are assisting physically disabled voters to enter polls — cleared the upper chamber earlier this month.

On the heels of the new attorney general’s opinion, the House on Thursday opted to delay voting on the bill for one week.

Matheny did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The opinion points to a state statute that allows political parties and groups interested in “preserving the purity of elections” the opportunity to appoint poll watchers.

According to Cooper, requiring poll watchers to be U.S. citizens would have a “discriminatory impact” on aliens and foreign-born residents.

Immigrant advocates have embraced the legal opinion as they seek to defeat the legislation.

“The duties of poll watchers are not dependent on a person's immigration status,” said Stephanie Teatro, director of advocacy for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. “We agree with the Attorney General that this bill unlawfully discriminates on the basis of national origin and doesn’t uphold our values as Tennesseans.”

Policy Update: March 23, 2013

State Legislative Updates:

Anti-Refugee Bill Moving Forward! 

HB1326/SB1325 is the latest bill in a multi-year attempt to create a hostile environment for refugee families who come to Tennessee to escape persecution, work hard, and begin rebuilding their lives. HB1326/SB1325 is a thinly veiled effort to stop refugee resettlement in TN by defunding the Tennessee Office of Refugees (TOR). The TOR and its partner organizations work to build the self-sufficiency of refugee families, support them in finding employment, learning English, and adapting to a new culture. After this initial support, most refugees thrive and prosper in their new home, contribute to their local economies, and enrich and strengthen their new communities. Representative Womick and Senator Ketron ignore the positive contributions of refugees to Tennessee, and instead promote mean-spirited policies based on the false premise that refugees are less worthy of being in Tennessee than any of us.

HB1326, as introduced, would require the TOR to reimburse the state for the "cost" of refugees--as determined by such metrics as how many children are in school. HB1326 was discussed in the House Government Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 20th. After the bill was amended to require the TOR to submit annual reports but not yet be billed for the "cost" of refugees, it passed out of the subcommittee. Representative Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar) voted to oppose the bill. Representative Sheila Butt (R-Columbia) and Representative Evans (R-Greenbrier) voted to pass the bill. Representative Bill Sanderson (R-Kenton) and Representative Kent Williams (I-Elizabethton) passed without voting. The bill has not been amended in the Senate. 

The amended bill will be voted on in the House State Government Committee and the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 26th.

English-Only driver license exams taken off notice! After weeks of successful lobbying by TIRRC members and allies, SB900/HB593 was taken off notice. This bill would have required all examinations for driver licenses in Tennessee to be conducted in English only. By eliminating translations of the test, Tennessee roads would become less safe, immigrants would have a more difficult time integrating and learning English, and Tennessee would appear to the international community as an unwelcoming place to live and invest. 

Undermining civic engagement bill passes House Committee, moves to vote in full House. SB549/HB985 would prohibit non-U.S. citizens, regardless of immigration status, from serving as volunteer poll watchers. Having already passed out of the Senate, the bill passed the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 19th. See how committee members voted here. The bill will be voted on in the full House of Representatives on Thursday, March 28th. TIRRC strongly opposes this bill and any bill that discriminates based on national origin. Please contact your Representative and urge them to vote no on HB985. For more information about the bill, visit TIRRC's website. 

Anti-living wage, pro-wage theft bill passes Senate Committee. After already passing the House of Representatives, the Senate State and Local Government Committee voted to pass HB510/SB35, a bill to take power away from local governments to set standards for local workers in regards to wages, family leave, insurance, and wage theft on Tuesday, March 19th. See how committee members voted here. Undocumented workers are most vulnerable to wage theft and other workplace exploitation, which affects the wages and working conditions of all workers. This bill undermines the ability of local governments to protect workers and businesses. For more information on this bill, visit our website. 

Our friends at Worker's Interfaith Network put together a petition to send to members of the Senate. Can you sign here?  

Bill to undermine due process taken off notice! SB248/HB410 would have allowed magistrates to consider someone's undocumented status (a civil immigration violation) against them in criminal justice cases. TIRRC strongly opposed this bill and was encouraged by Representative Alexander's decision to take the bill off notice. For more information about the bill, visit TIRRC's website.

Other Updates

Davidson County Election Commission overturns controversial decision to investigate naturalized citizens who register to vote. 

Policy Update: March 19th, 2013

Anti-refugee bill in House State Government Subcommittee. In a thinly veiled effort to stop refugee resettlement in TN, Representative Womick and Senator Ketron introduced HB1326/SB1325. This bill would require the Tennessee Office of Refugees and any refugee resettlement organization that receives federal funding to reimburse the state for the "cost" of refugees--believing that educating refugee children is a burden on our state, rather than an investment. What's more, in an effort to pit vulnerable communities against each other, the sponsors of this bill included a provision to give the money they take from refugees to persons with disabilities. Representative Womick placed this bill on notice in the House State Government Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 20. For more information about this bill, visit our website. 

English-Only driver license exams. Every year, a pair of legislators introduces a bill that would limit driver licenses examinations to the English language. This year, SB900/HB593 was introduced. By eliminating translations of the test, Tennessee roads will become less safe, immigrants will have a more difficult time integrating and learning English, and Tennessee will appear to the international community as an unwelcoming place. The bill will be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee and the House Transportation Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 20th. For more information, visit our website. 

Undermining civic engagement bill passes House subcommittee, moves to full committee. SB659/HB985, as introduced, would prohibit non-U.S. citizens, regardless of immigration status, from serving as a volunteer poll watchers or even entering a polling place. The bill passed the full Senate on Thursday, March 7. See how your Senator voted here. On Wednesday, March 13, the House Local Government Subcommittee amended and passed this bill. As amended, the bill would allow non-citizens to enter the polling place for any necessary purpose--like assisting a voter or performing work duties--but maintained a prohibition on non-citizens from serving as poll watchers. The bill is scheduled for a vote in the full Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 19. TIRRC strongly opposes this bill and any bill that discriminates based on national origin. For more information about the bill, visit TIRRC's website. 

Anti-living wage, pro-wage theft bill passes House of Representatives, moves into Senate committee. On Thursday, March 14, the House of Representatives passed HB501, a bill to take power away from local governments to set standards for local workers in regards to wages, family leave, insurance, and wage theft. See how your representative voted here. Undocumented workers are most vulnerable to wage theft and other workplace exploitation, which affects the wages and working conditions of all workers. This bill undermines the ability of local governments to protect workers and businesses. TIRRC will continue to oppose this bill as it makes its way in the Senate State and Local Government Committee next week. For more information on this bill, visit our website. 

Bill to undermine due process in House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. SB248/HB410 would allow magistrates to consider someone's undocumented status (a civil immigration violation) against them in criminal justice cases. Tennessee laws work to ensure a fair, just and accountable criminal justice system. Tennessee code has defined a system for setting bail that is upholds due process, protects public safety, and is accountable to taxpayers. HB410/SB248 undermines that system by transferring the responsibilities of the federal government to enforce civil immigration violations onto local law enforcement agencies. This bill is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the distinctions of the two systems and an inaccurate assumption that undocumented people have no ties to the community.  This bill is on calendar for Tuesday, March 19 in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. For more information about the bill, visit TIRRC's website.