Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, has introduced a bill called the Stop the American Gestapo Act that would ban law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. (Photo: John Patipillo/Tennessee Lookout)
As the Tennessee Legislature reconvenes this week, Republicans say for the second year in a row that immigration will be a central policy priority.
Republican supermajorities control the Tennessee House and Senate. House Speaker Cameron Sexton told reporters on Monday that the Republican caucus plans to unveil a package of immigration-related legislation this week developed in collaboration with White House homeland security adviser Stephen Miller. Sexton provided some details.
Separately, a series of bills have been introduced ahead of the January 30 bill filing deadline that underscore Republican policy priorities for immigrants living in Tennessee illegally. The population is estimated at 160,000-190,000, accounting for 3%-4% of the state’s population.
“Tennessee has long been a beacon for state-led immigration restrictions, and this session is no exception,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, said in a statement to The Lookout.
“The federal government under President (Donald) Trump has made it a priority to seal the border and expedite the return of illegal immigrants to their home countries. We will do everything we can to assist in that effort,” he said.
Tennessee Republicans’ immigration agenda expected to face backlash, like last year Thousands of protesters swarm the Capitol There are almost daily protests against a series of bills targeting immigrants.
Protests on Tuesday prepared for the opening and closing of the first day of the 2026 session, with protesters denouncing ICE mingling with those speaking out against anti-transvestment legislation.
“More Tennesseans than ever are ready to show up at the Capitol, contact their representatives, and defend their neighbors,” said Lisa Sherman Luna, executive director of TIRRC Vote, the political action arm of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, the state’s largest immigration advocacy group.
“We will not stand quietly and watch while our communities are targeted for harm and as ICE escalates violence against our loved ones.”
The group helped protesters rally at the Capitol for weeks this spring to oppose a range of immigration-related legislation, including measures that would ban children without legal status from public schools.
While the bill failed to pass last year, House Leader William Lamberth, a Portland Republican, did not rule out reinstating it this year.
Despite protests, Republicans last year easily passed measures targeting immigrants and aid workers, including creating a new crime for those who “harbor” immigrants and a new law giving law enforcement the power to order observers to stand back 25 feet. Both laws are currently being challenged in court.
Legislation enacted in 2025 also would create a state-level Office of Immigration Enforcement to coordinate with the federal government, provide $5 million in grants to local law enforcement that enters into agreements with ICE, and enact markings on license plates to identify legal immigrants who are noncitizens. Immigrants without legal status cannot obtain a Tennessee driver’s license.
Immigration bills introduced so far in 2026 include SB1466is a measure introduced by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, to shield information about immigration enforcement operations from public view, including the identities of local and state law enforcement officers involved.
The bill is widely considered to be aimed at Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Behavior A massive immigration raid in Nashville in May resulted in about 200 people being detained during a traffic jam.
O’Connell continues a long-standing executive order requiring city departments to report interactions with immigration officials and release them publicly. The mayor’s office said the public posts inadvertently temporarily leaked the names of federal immigration officials. But the posts drew backlash from Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers.
Johnson’s bill would impose felony charges on public officials who publish such information, punishable by six years in prison and fines.
Johnson also introduced a bill that SB1587which makes it a misdemeanor for immigrants operating a commercial vehicle without being legally present in the state and requires notification to immigration authorities.
Introduced by Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis SB1486 Requires prisons to detain immigrants who are here illegally within 48 hours of their release date to give federal immigration officials time to pick them up.
Democrats also introduced several bills weeks before filing deadlines.
The day after Minneapolis resident Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agents, Rep. Gabby Salinas introduced a bill that would HB1482which would prohibit ICE agents from entering public schools and churches without notification.
Salinas said in a statement that the bill is in response to “numerous reports of ICE officers patrolling and surveilling neighborhoods, schools and church communities” since President Donald Trump convened the Memphis Security Task Force in September to send more than 1,000 federal law enforcement agents, including ICE and Border Patrol, to Memphis.
“No child or individual should fear being abducted or risk being separated from their family when leaving their home,” the statement said. “We are losing friends, neighbors, caregivers and community members every day.”
Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, introduced legislation on Tuesday called the Stop the American Gestapo Act that would ban federal, local and state law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings while on duty, with certain exceptions for health and safety reasons. bill, HB1442also requires law enforcement to clearly display their names and badge numbers.
Members of both parties are expected to introduce more immigration-related bills in the coming weeks.
SUBSCRIBE: Get morning headlines delivered to your inbox