Tennessee lawmakers speculated Thursday on how the state can further regulate companies providing services to unauthorized immigrants under federal contracts and if the state can levy stricter punishments on those aiding the immigrants.
The questions came during a meeting of the Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues, which was formed after a group of migrant children arrived in Chattanooga in mid-May to be temporarily housed, a practice that predates President Joe Biden.
Glenn Reynolds, professor at the University of Tennessee College of Law, told the panel the state has a significant amount of regulatory powers with regard to refugee-relocation facilities and state licensing facilities that house refugees.
While state officials cannot defy federal regulations, they reserve the right to enforce state regulations, such as removing business licenses for those who hire unauthorized immigrants and forcing employers to use the E-Verify system. Businesses enrolled in E-Verify can use the program to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S.
In the case of facilities housing unaccompanied children, the state can enforce existing regulations regarding issues such as capacity, existing conditions and prevention of sexual and other types of abuse.