Skip to main content
Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Suit seeks to block Tennessee law that makes it a crime to ‘harbor’ certain immigrants

The Rev. Rick Roberts, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Donelson, and the Rev. Matt Steinhauer, interim pastor of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Franklin, kneel in front of Tennessee lawmakers debating a bill to deny an education to some immigrant children. The bill ultimately failed to pass. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout file)
The Rev. Rick Roberts, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Donelson, and the Rev. Matt Steinhauer, interim pastor of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Franklin, kneel in front of Tennessee lawmakers debating a bill to deny an education to some immigrant children. The bill ultimately failed to pass. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout file) The Rev. Rick Roberts, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church in Donelson, and the Rev. Matt Steinhauer, interim pastor of St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Franklin, kneel in front of Tennessee lawmakers debating a bill to deny an education to some immigrant children. The bill ultimately failed to pass. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout file)

By Anita Wadhwani / Tennessee Lookout 5 min read

A federal suit seeks to invalidate a new Tennessee law that would make it a felony to “harbor” immigrants without legal status.

The legislation set to take effect July 1, the suit argues, is unconstitutional, infringes on religious freedom and is written vaguely enough to ensnare churches that act as “safe zones” for school children during weather emergencies, landlords whose tenants take in roommates living illegally in the United States and family members living in mixed immigration status homes.

Filed Friday in the Middle District of Tennessee, the lawsuit seeks an immediate injunction to prevent the law from taking effect while litigation plays out in court. It also seeks class action status going forward.

The suit was brought on behalf of the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, whose Tennessee-based churches provide shelter, sanctuary, English instruction and other services to immigrants regardless of status.

Other plaintiffs include a landlord whose tenant took in roommates without legal status and a father who has legal immigration status but family members in his home who do not.