Tennessee Lawmakers Advance Trump-Backed Immigration Crackdown

Bill would make it a misdemeanor to violate federal deportation orders, with potential to expand to all undocumented immigrants

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Tennessee Republicans have taken the first steps toward 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 party-line vote. 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 reflects an ongoing political battle over immigration policy, with Republican-led states seeking to take a harder line against undocumented immigrants despite federal preemption concerns. The bill's passage through the subcommittee signals that the broader package has momentum in the Republican-controlled Tennessee legislature.

The details

The bill includes a provision that would expand the misdemeanor to all undocumented immigrants in the state if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Arizona v. United States case, which limits states' authority to create immigration enforcement systems parallel to the federal government. Other measures in the "Immigration 2026" package would prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing public benefits and obtaining certain professional licenses.

  • The bill passed through the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on February 12, 2026.
  • The full House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bill next.

The players

William Lamberth

Republican House Majority Leader from Portland, Tennessee who introduced the first bill in the "Immigration 2026" package.

Jason Powell

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

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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 (johnsoncitypress.com)

“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 (johnsoncitypress.com)

“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 (johnsoncitypress.com)

What’s next

The bill is expected to advance to the full House Judiciary Committee, where it is likely to pass again along party lines.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation reflects the ongoing political battle over immigration policy, with Republican-led states seeking to take a harder line against undocumented immigrants despite federal preemption concerns. The bill's passage through the subcommittee signals that the broader "Immigration 2026" package has momentum in the Tennessee legislature, though it will likely face legal challenges if enacted.