(The Center Square) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said there are a lot of unknowns concerning a bill that would allow school districts to ban students who are illegally in the country.
Protestors have gathered outside the state capitol and packed committee rooms during debates of the bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and in the House by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland.
“To the specifics of the legislation before the General Assembly right now, it’s not finalized,” Lee said during a visit to Chattanooga this week. “They’re different versions of the bill, there are different amendments, there’s a lot unknown yet about where this is going to land. Until I know more about that, I can’t speak to the particulars of it.”
Lee said the Biden administration created a problem with illegal immigration.
“It leaves lawmakers with the challenges of addressing the mess that was created by that, including issues with overburdened school systems,” Lee said. “I think that is part of what you are seeing there.”
The 1982 Plyer vs. Doe ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court said U.S. public schools must allow children illegally in the country to attend unless “a substantial state interest is involved.”
William Mendoza of Knoxville said during a subcommittee meeting of the House Education Committee that he believes lawmakers are hoping to set a national precedent.
“I think we are wasting taxpayers money,” Mendoza said. “We have seen how this bill that is trying to be passed is just a game because they just want to bring it up all the way to the Supreme Court to be able to challenge it.”
The bill is on Tuesday’s calendar for the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee. It is assigned to the Government Operations Committee in the House.
Both chambers could vote next week on another piece of legislation addressing illegal immigration.
Sen. Majority Leader Jack Johnson and Rep. Lee Reeves, R-Franklin, are sponsoring a bill that negates out-of-state driver’s licenses for people illegally in the country. Those caught could be charged with a Class B misdemeanor.
“The majority of states that issue licenses to illegal immigrants issue a distinctive license,” Johnson said. “The bill requires the Department of Safety to go through and create a list of these licenses. Those licenses will not be valid licenses here in the state of Tennessee.”
The bills have passed House and Senate committees.
Lawmakers agreed to a bill in a January special session that creates a Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division to act as a liaison with the Trump administration on immigration. The legislation also establishes a grant program for law enforcement agencies that participate in a federal immigration program that allows them to perform some immigration duties.
Local officials that support sanctuary cities could be charged with a Class E felony under a separate piece of legislation passed during the special session.
