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Bill aimed at students without legal immigration status advances in Tennessee Senate

Protesters against a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to unauthorized immigrant children stand outside a senate committee meeting in March. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
Protesters against a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to unauthorized immigrant children stand outside a senate committee meeting in March. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Protesters against a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to unauthorized immigrant children stand outside a senate committee meeting in March. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

By Anita Wadhwani / Tennessee Lookout 6 min read

A North Chattanooga Republican leading the effort to possibly exclude unauthorized immigrant children from public schools has refused to rule out the possibility his bill could also force educators to report students to U.S. immigration authorities.

Sen. Bo Watson is cosponsoring the legislation to require immigration status checks of every student at each one of Tennessee’s more than 1700 K-12 public and charter schools.

School districts would then have the option to deny children without legal status access to an education or charge their families tuition.

Bill aimed at students without legal immigration status advances in Tennessee Senate

State Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, said a bill that would allow schools to deny enrollment to students without legal immigration status would set a dangerous precedent for the state's public schools. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
State Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis, said a bill that would allow schools to deny enrollment to students without legal immigration status would set a dangerous precedent for the state’s public schools. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
State Sen. Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, is chair of the Tennessee State Senate Finance Committee. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
State Sen. Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, is chair of the Tennessee State Senate Finance Committee. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
The senate finance committee, led by Chair Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, second from left, voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would challenge a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that all children, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to an education. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)
The senate finance committee, led by Chair Bo Watson, R-North Chattanooga, second from left, voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would challenge a 1982 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that all children, regardless of immigration status, are entitled to an education. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

The bill’s language contains no requirement that schools report students without legal status to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but Watson told lawmakers Tuesday that was “something to be considered in the rules and regulations” the state department of education would develop should the bill become law.

The prospect drew immediate pushback from Sen. London Lamar, a Memphis Democrat.