A resolution urging Congress and the president to streamline the legal immigration process and “prioritize the safety, security and economic interests of the United States and its citizens” drew testy debate in the Tennessee House before it was ultimately adopted.
The resolution by Rep. Lee Reeves, a Republican from Franklin, carries no force of law. But the acrimonious discussion on the House floor Monday that followed its introduction provided a preview of the expected debates ahead over a lengthy slate of bills Republicans have introduced that target immigrants.
Reeves said he brought the resolution to highlight the current legal immigration process as “burdensome with unnecessary bureaucracy, lengthy delays and, because of that, excessive cost on lawful applicants.” The system makes it difficult for those trying to “follow the law the right way,” he said.
Rep. Jason Powell, a Nashville Democrat, said that while he supported immigrants, he took issue with the resolution’s language.