Tennessee Advances Bill to Criminalize Undocumented Immigrants

Proposed legislation would create new penalties for those violating federal deportation orders

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Tennessee Republicans have taken the first steps towards implementing a slate of bills cracking down on illegal immigration in the state. A bill that would create a Class A misdemeanor for violating a federal deportation order passed through the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee in a 6-2 vote along party lines. The bill is part of a larger legislative package dubbed "Immigration 2026" that was developed in tandem with the Trump administration and aims to establish harsher penalties for undocumented immigrants in the state.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation is part of a broader effort by Tennessee Republicans to take a hardline stance on immigration enforcement, even as such measures face potential legal challenges. The bill highlights the ongoing political tensions around immigration policy at the state level.

The details

The bill includes trigger language that would expand the crime to all undocumented immigrants in the state, not just those with deportation orders, if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns a previous ruling limiting states' authority to create parallel immigration enforcement systems. Other provisions in the "Immigration 2026" package would prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing public benefits and obtaining certain professional licenses.

  • The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed the bill on Wednesday, February 12, 2026.
  • The bill now heads to the full House Judiciary Committee, where it is likely to pass along party lines.

The players

William Lamberth

Republican House Majority Leader from Portland, Tennessee who introduced the first of the "Immigration 2026" bills to the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.

Jason Powell

Democratic state representative from Nashville who raised constitutional concerns about the bill during the committee hearing.

Lisa Sherman Luna

Executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, who criticized the bill as part of an "anti-immigrant agenda" by the Republican supermajority.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you are here illegally, this would literally make it illegal to be illegal in the state of Tennessee.”

— William Lamberth, House Majority Leader (timesnews.net)

“There's nothing I can imagine that would be more important than reducing the number of murders, rapes and robberies that occur in this state, and specifically doing so by deporting every single illegal immigrant — specifically those who have committed crimes.”

— William Lamberth, House Majority Leader (timesnews.net)

“This is just more of the Supermajority's anti-immigrant agenda that wants us to fight with our neighbors and blame immigrants in order to distract us from their real agenda: giving handouts to wealthy corporations by cutting funding for schools and healthcare.”

— Lisa Sherman Luna, Executive Director, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition (timesnews.net)

What’s next

The bill will next be considered by the full House Judiciary Committee, where it is expected to pass along party lines. If approved, it would then move to a vote by the full state House of Representatives.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation in Tennessee reflects the ongoing political tensions around immigration policy at the state level, as Republican-led states seek to take a harder line on undocumented immigrants despite potential legal challenges. The bill's passage through the legislature highlights the priorities of the state's Republican supermajority, even as critics argue the measures distract from other policy goals.