One Chattanooga-area legislator said the purpose of a state panel on refugee issues was a focus on child safety, while another is suggesting the group's work simply gave concerned lawmakers a chance to express their feelings.
State Rep. Dan Howell, a Cleveland Republican who co-chaired the Joint Study Committee on Refugee Issues, said following its final meeting that the state has "very little control over immigration," but that doesn't mean he saw the panel's work as a waste of time.
(READ MORE: Tennessee's special refugee committee recommends more regulation, oversight of migrants)
"We have control over the safety of children that come into this state when they're in state custody. That's the basis of our committee," he said.
State Sen. Todd Gardenhire, a Chattanooga Republican, was concerned about the financial implications of the panel's recommendations. Gardenhire raised questions about costs that would be imposed on agencies that will be required to fill out new reports.
Gardenhire acknowledged, however, that the panel did accomplish at least one thing.
"We had a great exercise in letting everybody show their frustration," he said.
After some eight months of study, the committee wrapped up its work by urging "transparency" and recommended passage of a resolution calling for the federal government to seek approval from the state before it brings unaccompanied "alien" children into the state.
The panel voted to support the Migrant Resettlement Transparency Act introduced by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee. It would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to consult with the state and local officials in advance of resettlement or housing of illegal immigrants.
State Sen. Dawn White said she was disappointed the federal government provides little to no information to the state on unaccompanied children.
"Unfortunately, the Biden administration's not telling us who's coming into this state, what's happening to these children, and that's very disappointing," said White, a Murfreesboro Republican who co-chaired the committee.
In addition, the panel is seeking reporting requirements. For instance, any agency caring for unaccompanied children would be required to disclose to the state any contracts with third parties for child care, in addition to the total number of children housed in a refugee center annually.
About 90% of the children who stay here temporarily go to the other states after sponsors are located, according to testimony.
The refugee study committee formed this spring after Republican leaders grew alarmed by the delivery of a planeload of immigrant children in the middle of the night at a Chattanooga airport. The children were taken to La Casa de Sidney, a facility run by the Baptiste Group, which had a federal contract to take them in and was authorized by the state to accept children until they could be placed with friends or family.
The Department of Children's Services suspended the organization's license amid arrests of employees charged with having inappropriate sexual contact with minors who stayed at the center. The cases remain open.
Bethany Christian Services in Nashville is believed to be the only center currently serving unaccompanied children, but Bridge Refugee Services in East Tennessee served a number of Afghan refugees in Knoxville and Chattanooga in 2021.
(READ MORE: Families separated at border now fear extortion attempts)
La Casa de Sidney is no longer operating, and its contract with the state is set to end in February, according to a committee report.
In an effort to protect children, the panel is also recommending immediate reporting of juveniles who go missing from state-licensed facilities. It also wants to revoke the license of any facility whose employees are charged with criminal conduct and make the facility ineligible for further state contracts.
Department of Children's Services officials said those requirements should not cause the department much extra work.
Read more at TennesseeLookout.com.