Tennessee Gov. Approves Legislation to Ban Sanctuary Cities By Not Signing Bill

Nick Kangadis | May 22, 2018
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By doing nothing, Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam allowed legislation to become law that would essentially outlaw sanctuary practices from taking place within his state.

The Tenn. state legislature sent a bill — HB 2315/SB 2332 — bans sanctuary cities within the state.

The law states the following, according to the Tennessee General Assembly’s website:

Immigration - As introduced, prohibits state and local governmental entities and officials from adopting sanctuary policies; authorizes Tennessee residents and members of the general assembly to submit complaints to the attorney general; provides that violations subject entities to ineligibility of state moneys; requires law enforcement agencies to enter into memorandums of agreement with federal officials concerning enforcement of federal immigration laws.

In essence, if you’re in the U.S. — and subsequently Tennessee — illegally, and you are caught by authorities or reported by a citizen you are likely to face federal charges.

Haslam had the bill sent to his desk on May 10, and he returned it on May 21.

The Washington Examiner reported that “Tennessee law dictates that if a bill has not been signed or vetoed after its passage, it automatically becomes law 10 days after it is submitted to the governor.”

“I think the best thing for the state to do with this decision is to move on from it,” Haslam said, according to the Tennessean.

You do the math. It’s now the law in Tennessee.

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