NASHVILLE — Gov. Bill Lee and fellow prominent Republicans are demanding the Biden administration abandon what they say are plans to transport some migrant detainees from a federal facility in New Orleans to Tennessee.
But Tennessee faith-based groups and other advocates for immigrants pushed back, accusing Lee and Republicans U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee of seeking to exploit Tennesseans’ worst fears.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Lee said federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials informed the state Monday that “they plan to release single adult detainees into Tennessee while they await court proceedings.
The dispute arises as the Biden administration continues a legal effort to stop enforcing a pandemic-era border policy known as Title 42 that limited entry to the U.S. by migrants.
“This is irresponsible and a threat to the safety of Tennesseans,” Lee said in the statement. “Furthermore, we already have a national security crisis at our border, and the Biden administration’s attempt to revoke Title 42 will only incentivize more illegal crossings.”