30 Jun 2025

ACLU Sues Tennessee for Criminalizing Elected Officials’ Votes on Sanctuary Policies

by Bonnie | | 0

American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee filed a lawsuit against a new state law that makes it a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years imprisonment and a $3000 fine, for public officials to vote in support of any “sanctuary policy.”

Any official casts such a vote is also required to be removed from office “as soon as practicable.”

The law was passed by the General Assembly, which has a Republican supermajority, in a special legislative session. It was signed into law by Governor Bill Lee (R-TN) in February.

Since 2019 the state has by law been allowed to withhold grant funding from any jurisdiction that adopt “sanctuary policies” limiting local or state government cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Citizens can file a civil suit against policies they suspect of going against that law. This goes a step farther to muzzle any public official who does not want federal immigration agents to get assistance from their jurisdiction.

Click here for more details.

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