House and Senate Republican leaders closed out the first week of the 2026 legislative session by unveiling a bold slate of bills aimed at strengthening illegal immigration enforcement in Tennessee
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In collaboration with President Donald Trump's administration, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and Republican leaders announced nine key bills as part of their Immigration 2026 reform package. The initiative seeks to close loopholes in current law, prioritize taxpayer resources for legal residents and ensure accountability across the state. “We all support immigrants who have come here legally,” said Sexton. “However, if you are in Tennessee illegally, then you will be asked to provide legal status or referred to ICE. Whether you are seeking public benefits, government jobs, CDL licenses or registering a vehicle. We are committed to protecting tax dollars, reducing fraud and ending sanctuary loopholes.” The proposals build on Tennessee's existing framework, including the General Assembly's establishment of the Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division (CIED) in 2025, to create a more robust, transparent, and accountable system. The comprehensive package directly aligns with President Trump's border security and immigration policies. "Tennesseans deserve a government that fully recognizes its sacred duty to protect the safety, security, and economic well-being of those lawfully in our state,” said House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland. “Without apology, we will do what it takes to ensure Tennessee never becomes a sanctuary state for illegal immigration. That means supporting law enforcement, closing loopholes, ending incentives for illegal entry and always putting Tennesseans first." Illegal immigration costs Tennessee taxpayers an estimated $971 million in 2023, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIRus.org), a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to reforming U.S. immigration policy.
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In addition to crime, illegal immigration places massive strains on public services while weak enforcement and inconsistent reporting allow taxpayer-funded benefits, jobs, and licenses to go unchecked. Preliminary reports from the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference (TDAGC) show law enforcement tracked approximately 11,063 encounters with illegals across Tennessee from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2025. The TDAGC's full report detailing crimes committed by illegal immigrants for 2025 is expected to be released Jan. 30. Current law permits, but does not require, referrals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This has led to non-cooperation by some locals and provides little transparency for lawmakers or Tennessee taxpayers. The proposals address critical areas, including public benefits, employment, licensing, reporting, education, judicial cooperation and criminalization of illegal entry. These include:
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* Verify lawful status for public benefits which requires state and local governments to verify lawful status before issuing taxpayer-funded benefits. Mandates referrals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Tennessee’s Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division when status cannot be verified.
Empowers the Tennessee Attorney General to withhold shared sales tax revenue from non-compliant municipalities.
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* Mandatory E-Verify for government jobs which makes E-Verify mandatory for all new state and local government hires. Ends taxpayer-funded employment of illegal labor. Aligns public hiring standards with those already required in the private sector.
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Professional licensing requires proof of lawful status for licensed professions, including teachers, nurses, contractors, and other regulated occupations. Establishes uniform standards across professions.
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* Driver’s licenses and CDL reforms requires verification of lawful status before issuance of driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations. All driver’s license exams are conducted in English, with a one-time limited exception and restricted license requirements.
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* CDL applicants must be able to recognize traffic signs in English, regardless of exam format.
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* Real-time reporting and transparency requires quarterly reports from state agencies on unverifiable immigration status encounters.
Monthly reporting on non-citizens receiving public benefits, coordinated with DHS.
Annual, comprehensive report detailing the total cost of illegal immigration to Tennessee taxpayers, including schools, hospitals, prisons, and social services.
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* K-12 enrollment verification verifies lawful status for K-12 students to ensure transparency, protects classroom resources, and supports long-term planning.
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* Mandatory court and law enforcement cooperation requires courts and local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE and enhance 287(g) agreements. Establishes clear penalties for jurisdictions that obstruct enforcement or ignore state law.
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* Illegal entry and re-entry as a state crime makes illegal entry and re-entry a state criminal offense
Requires fingerprinting and DNA collection for offenders in custody.
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"Tennessee taxpayers deserve to know their hard-earned dollars are supporting lawful residents and essential services for Tennesseans—not subsidizing illegal activity," said the package sponsors. "This comprehensive reform closes dangerous gaps, strengthens enforcement, and upholds the rule of law while protecting our communities, schools, and public resources."
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