More Info: SB 1141 Fact Sheet: Arizona-like Policy, Bad for TN (Updated Regularly)

Contact: Elias Feghali, 615-784-9745 (cell), elias@tnimmigrant.org

Nashville, TN –   On Monday afternoon, Governor Phil Bredesen signed SB 1141/HB 670into law. His decision comes despite a broad-based community campaign in oppositionand countless letters from community leaders throughout Tennessee, including the ACLU, Tennessee Senator Tim Barnes, the Bishop Diocese of Knoxville, and the Tennessee NAACP.

“We are disappointed that Governor Bredesen declined to show leadership on this incredibly important issue,” says Stephen Fotopulos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). “More importantly, we are now left with a terrible piece of legislation that burdens local governments and fails to make our communities safer. There are smart, effective ways to enforce our nation’s immigration policies, and this new TN law includes none of them.”

“We all want solutions to our broken immigration system, but this law makes the problem worse by creating an impossible situation for our sheriffs,” says Fotopulos. “There are quite literally hundreds of conditions they will have to check to verify compliance with federal immigration rules. Without training or access to federal databases, jailers will be forced to profile everyone who looks or sounds foreign-bornand possibly flood immigration authorities with useless records. By passing this legislation, our state government has sent a clear message that it's okay for untrained law enforcement officers to treat any foreign national or non-white resident with heightened suspicion. The new law doesn’t go into effect until January of 2011, and jailers have a great deal of work ahead of them to prepare for this unfunded mandate."

As passed, SB 1141/ HB 670 requires that every jailer in the state inspect the immigration documents of every person detained, with no specialized training, funding, oversight, or access to federal immigration databases. Beyond asking questions about citizenship, SB1141 requires jailers to determine whether someone is in compliance with complex, federal immigration laws. For example, jailers would be required to inspect a detainee's papers to determine if a tourist or student visa is current or whether a petition for political asylum has been approved.

Thursday, June 24^th at 7:00pm on the steps of the TN State Capitol (600 Charlotte Ave, Nashville, TN)

Nashville, TN –   On Thursday evening, behind a back drop of concerned Tennesseans holding lit candles on the steps of the State Capitol, a coalition of diverse community leaders will come together to urge Governor Bredesen to veto SB 1141 / HB 670. A number of interfaith leaders and speakers will address the gathering about the dangers of racial profiling for all Tennessee residents. Lawyers and affected community members will share testimonials of how racial profiling has ensnared lawfully present Tennesseans in our badly broken federal immigration system – and how SB 1141 / HB 670 only promises more of the same.

“The momentum is building throughout the state to what we hope will be a veto by the Governor,” says Stephen Fotopulos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC). “Gov. Bredesen has demonstrated his leadership in the past on complex issues; and, we expect that when he sits down and considers how dangerous it is to mandate that Tennessee jailers understand the ins and outs of federal immigration policy, he will do what’s best for the safety of all Tennesseans.”

Since Monday, a number of prominent leaders and organizations have sent letters to the Governor, including the ACLU of Tennesseee, TIRRC, the NAACP of Tennessee, the NAACP of Clarksville, Congregation Micah, and the Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship. Two of the largest newspapers in state (Tennessean, Knoxville News Sentinel) have likewise penned editorials opposing the bill and urging Gov. Bredesen to exercise his veto authority.

If passed, SB 1141/ HB 670 will mandate that every jailer in the state inspect the immigration documents of every person detained, with no specialized training, funding, oversight, or access to federal immigration databases. Beyond asking questions about citizenship, SB1141 requires jailers to determine whether someone is in compliance with complex, federal immigration laws. For example, jailers would be required to inspect a detainee's papers to determine if a tourist or student visa is current or whether a petition for political asylum has been approved.

“We all want solutions to our broken immigration system, but this bill only makes the problem worse by creating an impossible situation for our sheriffs,” says Fotopulos. “There are quite literally hundreds of conditions they will have to check to verify compliance with immigration laws. Without training or access to federal databases, jailers will be forced to profile everyone who looks or sounds foreign-born. By passing this bill, our legislature is sending a clear message that it's okay for untrained law enforcement officers to treat foreign nationals and non-white residents with heightened suspicion."

Nashville, TN –   On Thursday afternoon, the Tennessee Senate passed SB 1141, a piece of state legislation mandating that every jailer in the state inspect the immigration documents of every person arrested, with no training, funding, or oversight. Unlike other programs which operate on the basis of citizenship, SB 1141 requires jailers to make their determinations by immigration status, which is notoriously complex and ever-changing. The system appears designed for abuse and racial profiling.

In comparison, the 287(g) program in Davidson County was created under a similar pretense. However, as a partnership between local and federal authorities, 287(g) came equipped with mandatory funding, access to federal databases, and 5 weeks of training for participating officers. SB 1141 provides none of the protection of 287(g) for TN jailers, yet carries all of the same risks of abuse.

“This is an impossible situation for our sheriffs,” says Stephen Fotopulos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. “There are quite literally hundreds of conditions they will have to check to verify immigration status.  Without access to federal databases, jailers will be forced to either profile everyone who looks foreign-born or flood ICE with everyone’s information.”

“We were contacted today by a Tennessee community college that employs one full-time staff member just to monitor changes in immigration law for their international students,” says Mr. Fotopulos. “Are local jailers going to spend their limited resources hiring immigration experts, or are we headed towards a situation where they will wrongfully deport an exchange student?”

The story of Juana Villegas, an immigrant shackled while giving birth during pregnancy, found the headlines again this week as her trial is set to begin. With the passage of SB 1141, many are right to wonder whether more cases of abuses are on the horizon.

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Nashville, TN –   Late Monday afternoon, Tennessee legislators approved a resolution (HJR 1253) commending Arizona for SB 1070, a state bill that mandates racial profiling by requiring police officers to interrogate anyone who appears foreign-born. The impact of this otherwise meaningless resolution is to send a message about TN's position in an increasingly volatile national debate. Unfortunately, this message comes on the heels of a nationwide economic boycott of Arizona, which has cost the state significantly in terms of tourism, income, and reputation. 

• San Francisco and St. Paul have banned public employees from traveling to Arizona on business. Los Angeles, and Oakland are considering similar actions. (source)
• Boston, New York, San Diego, and other cities passed boycotts or resolutions condemning Arizona, with considerations to future economic action. (source)
• Gov. Rick Perry of Texas (R-TX) and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) joined other conservative governors condemning the law, and refusing to sign similar legislation if introduced in their own states. (source)
• Just last week, Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon announced that his city was facing a "near economic crisis" because of SB1070 and the subsequent national boycott. A study was presented to the city council which estimated that Phoenix stood to lose upwards of $90 million dollars, in a worst case scenario. (source)

As more and more businesses decide that they are unwilling to support such a racially divisive piece of legislation, many are wondering why Tennessee wants to associate its name with a bill drawing such wide-spread criticism. For critics, mandating racial profiling is a step backwards for the United States, a country that prides itself on our shared values of equality and fairness.

Although study after study demonstrates that a majority of Americans want Congress to reform our broken immigration system, when states like Arizona attempt to do the job of the federal government, we are left with racial profiling and failed enforcement strategies. The hope is that Congress and the White House find the courage to pass comprehensive immigration reform, so states will no longer devise their own "solutions," regardless of the cost.

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